Residents of the integrated community living homes supported by JCFS have benefited from some four-legged visitors in recent weeks.

When members of a Wilmette synagogue struggled to gather enough manpower to help a refugee family through the HIAS Refugee Resettlement Program, they reached across faiths to a nearby church to fill their volunteer roster.

When a Central African Republic family stepped off the plane at O’Hare Airport for the first time last year, Gail Nusekabel was there to greet them. She had never met this family of four before, but she was ready to help them as they embarked on a new life in the U.S.

Along with other members of her synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, Gail volunteers as a JCFS Chicago HIAS Immigration & Citizenship mentor, helping refugee families get acclimated to living in a new country.

Every week for over fifteen years, Rabbi David Rosenberg visits one of the adult living homes supported by JCFS Chicago to teach a Jewish Learning class to a small group of residents.

“In our community, Rabbi Rosenberg is a super star,” said Leticia Cardoso, Director of Residential Supports. “His commitment to our department has been invaluable, steady and indispensable.”

Michael Lieber is a longstanding friend of JCFS Chicago, and President of Laminet Cover Company, a plastic manufacturing company in Chicago. When the pandemic hit, Laminet quickly pivoted to produce and ship face shields. In addition to producing face shields for hospitals and medical workers, Laminet began donating shields to others in need, including 200 for teachers and administrative staff at JCFS Knapp School & Yeshiva.

Steve Krasner is a dedicated volunteer and the experienced instructor of HIAS's virtual U.S. Citizen Preparation Class. “My goal is to try and make the virtual class as much as I can like the actual classroom,” he shared. "Building a rapport with the students is so important to understand who they are, where they are from and what they hope to achieve."

Jennifer Lucas's first-hand experience observing a close family member struggle with mental health challenges fueled her passion to support and advance the mission of JCFS Chicago to help community members in need. After almost six years on the JCFS Chicago Board of Directors, Jennifer began her tenure as Board Chair on September 14.

Current co-chairs of JCFS Chicago’s Associates Board, Becca Friedman and Sarah Dorfman are setting an example for young philanthropists in Chicago.

Since Michelleanne and Max Li became connected to HIAS Immigration & Citizenship two years ago they have worked with the Kulnichs, a refugee family from Ukraine.

One of the core values at JCFS is an understanding that the community is essential to living. This core value is demonstrated in our participation in events like the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Community Service, held January 15, 2018, at various places within Chicago.