Every year, we each look for meaningful ways to give tzedakah before Purim. With so many worthy charities, it’s easy to find opportunities for giving. Sometimes, however, organizations stand out as particularly close to home, literally and figuratively. Jewish Family Service of Bergen and North Hudson is one of those organizations.

With offices in Teaneck, JFS of Bergen and North Hudson serves the needs of our very community. Our neighbors, parents in our children’s classes and congregants from our shuls are assisted each and every day by the professionals at JFS. With a range of mental health services, including individual, couples and family therapy, as well as group support services, their attentive staff provides a high level of care to anyone who requires it.

Senior Services at JFS provides care managers for seniors in the community who are living at home, but need assistance through home-based therapeutic services. Over 28,000 kosher meals on wheels are delivered each year to seniors in our community. Volunteers provide in-home visits as well as telephone reassurance. JFS provides emergency preparedness kits to seniors, and has a team ready to mobilize at any time. Holocaust survivors attend monthly social events and receive specialized therapy for themselves as well as second-generation survivors in their families.

Re-Launch at JFS provides career readiness services to the unemployed and underemployed. The agency’s core services, including individual and group counseling, are offered in tandem with career mentoring, resume services, skills workshops and partnership referrals for specialized training and advanced education. With a holistic approach at rebuilding and rebranding employees, JFS provides a comprehensive program of concrete and support services to get individuals back on track mentally, emotionally and with updated job skills.

The Aid and Referral arm of JFS manages issues for the most needy in our community. With over a thousand calls each year, clients receive nutritional support through the food pantry, referrals to area agencies and assistance with procuring medical care and emergency financial assistance. With an increased demand of 60 percent this year alone, JFS is not always able to fill these needs. It is your generosity, your commitment and your mitzvot that allow the agency to provide this level of care, allowing Jewish Family Service to serve clients with dignity and confidentiality.

So how can you help? Purchase Purim cards from JFS to support their programs. Donate food to JFS to fill the food pantry. Give tzedakah to JFS to assist the need in our community. Each dollar you give will have dramatic effect on someone’s life. To purchase cards, call (201)837-9090 or email [email protected]. To donate, go to www.jfsbergen.org.

And as always, should you need any assistance for yourself or your family, Jewish Family Service’s doors are always open for you.