Pictured above: Former Board President Allison Kates (top left), former Board member Peggy Barry with her husband Ed (center left), and CEO Lino Covarrubias (bottom right). Photos courtesy of Axie Breen.
For the 14th consecutive year, JFS of Metrowest has provided backpacks with school supplies to hundreds of children in need in our community! The Build-A-Backpack Events not only supply essential items but also bring families together, fostering a spirit of community support and engagement.
The Build-A-Backpack events support the JFS/FPS Resource Room, which serves the academic, social, and basic needs of immigrant and low-income children in Framingham. Following the events, the filled backpacks are distributed through the JFS/FPS Resource Room, where families can also choose seasonal clothing, footwear, and personal care items—allowing them to stretch limited resources for essentials like rent, food, and medical care.
Pictured above: Cindy Rowe, President & CEO of JALSA with Senior Director of Philanthropy Jayne Lampert and CEO Lino Covarrubias (center left); Youth Board Member Talia Frieze (center). Photos courtesy of Sheldon Golder.
This year, hundreds of individuals and families came together across three events to pack more than 275 backpacks. Volunteers generously gave their time and resources, showcasing our community’s incredible spirit. We are also grateful to the many donors who contributed through our Amazon Wishlist, helping offset the cost of supplies.
Since the inception of the Build-a-Backpack program, JFS has donated over 5,000 backpacks to students at Framingham Public Schools and other children in need in the Metrowest community.
Pictured above: Operations Manager Sobley Katzman (top, center, third from left); Former Youth Board member Ben Gelber (top right); CEO Lino Covarrubias, Senior Director of Community Engagement and Innovation Adam Smith, and Senior Director of Philanthropy Jayne Lampert (bottom right).
Special thanks to our hosts – The Rashi School, the Morse Institute Library, Natick and the Weston Public Library – for providing the spaces for our events. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers, community partners, donors, and current and former Board Members who made these events possible, including:
Axie Breen (volunteer photographer)
Sheldon Golder (volunteer photographer)
JFS Youth Board Member Talia Frieze
JFS Board Member Rabbi Danny Burkeman of Temple Shir Tikva
JFS Board Member Dena Kowaloff and her husband Noah
JFS Board Member Denise Rosenblum
Former JFS Board President Allison Kates and her son Alex
Former Board Member Peggy Barry and her husband Ed
Former Youth Board Member Ben Gelber
Rashi Student Government
Cindy Rowe, President & CEO of JALSA
Ruby Bearak and Samantha Levitt
Gail and Jacqui Milowe
Rockland Trust
The Natick Police
The Weston Police
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Build-A-Backpack event a resounding success! Together, we are making a meaningful difference in our community.
To make a donation to JFS to support this and other programs please click “donate now”!