Lighting the Way
2023-2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT
Lighting the Way
2023-2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT
Message from Leadership
JFS is built by this community, for this community. Guided by Jewish values, we tackle evolving challenges with real solutions that uplift and empower.
This past year, demand for our services soared. We distributed nearly one million pounds of food, reduced therapy wait times to under a week, and made our Home Support program self-sustaining, ensuring continued access to essential care.
Strategic partnerships fueled our growth. We integrated JACS addiction recovery services, launched new community scholarships, and expanded support for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. A bulk-buying food program now helps working families face rising grocery prices.
Innovation drives us forward. JFS supported over 30 Israeli families seeking refuge in Vancouver. With United Way funding, we addressed the impact of antisemitism on staff, clients, and the community.
Looking ahead, we’re committed to expanding food security, strengthening crisis responses, and ensuring JFS remains the first place people turn for help. At our upcoming November 2025 AGM, Board Chair Jody Dales will complete her term, with Shelley Rivkin stepping in to continue strong leadership.
JFS is a journey of learning—some days filled with success stories, others with challenges that push us to do more. But none of this would be possible without you. Thank you for being part of the JFS family.
With much appreciation,
 |
 |
| Jody Dales | Tanja Demajo |
| Board Chair | CEO |
We respectfully acknowledge that JFS operates on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We honour their deep and ongoing connection to these lands and are committed to reconciliation through our work in community support, wellness, and social justice. With humility and gratitude, we strive to serve in a way that reflects respect, equity, and care for all.
Impact At A Glance
JFS works year-round to support over 3,000 children, adults, and older adults in our community. By helping people become more resilient and connecting them with resources to uplift their lives, we are working together to build a stronger community.
Look at what $7.1M has done in our community this past year!
lives enriched by receiving groceries, meals, grocery cards and food services
children accessed food, counselling, and food education
people received holistic support, including case management, counselling, advocacy, and emergency financial aid
Holocaust survivors benefited from financial aid and integrated JFS services
older adults received Home Support, resources, and opportunities for socialization and learning
distributed in financial aid, including grocery gift cards
pounds of food distributed to families and individuals
plant-based Kosher meals prepared at our Kitchen and distributed in the community
counselling clients benefited from mental health and therapy support
"JFS gave me lifesaving support for difficult years which felt like they would never end. Sometimes the friendly warm caring interaction with JFS is so uplifting that it fuels my resolve to continue to be as involved as possible in the JFS community—your generous spirit motivates me to want to volunteer even when my health is not the greatest. Thank you for all that you do."
- JFS Client
Stories and Highlights
"Stories like Sammy’s remind us why we do this work. JFS exists to ensure that no one in our community is left behind, no matter their circumstances. Thanks to our generous donors, we help families like Sammy and Tadelu find stability, dignity, and hope."
- Tanja Demajo, JFS CEO
A Journey of Strength, Hope, and Giving Back: Sammy and Tadelu's Story
When Sammy’s mother, Tadelu, left Ethiopia, she did so with a dream—to create a better life for her son. She was promised by her employer that Sammy would join her in Canada within a year. Unfortunately, that promise was broken. Sammy waited seven long years before they were finally reunited.
Enhancing Care: Addiction and Social Support
For years, JACS and JFS have walked alongside individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction—offering support, compassion, and hope.
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Enhancing Care: Addiction and Social Support
For years, JACS and JFS have walked alongside individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction—offering support, compassion, and hope. This year marked a significant milestone as JACS officially integrated under the JFS umbrella, further strengthening our shared commitment to mental health and wellness.
While JACS remains a separate society, its programs—therapeutic services, community engagement, and resource referrals—continue to thrive. Now, with greater connection to JFS’s wraparound services, including counselling, crisis management, and system navigation, individuals facing addiction can access more seamless, holistic support.
This integration is about more than organizational change—it’s about creating real pathways to healing. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate community where no one has to face these challenges alone.
Investing In Bright Futures
JFS is proud to celebrate the inaugural recipients of the Fay and Ken Golden Annual Scholarship Fund, as well as the establishment of the Alana James Memeorial Culinary Scholarship.
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Investing In Bright Futures
JFS is proud to celebrate the inaugural recipients of the Fay and Ken Golden Annual Scholarship Fund, as well as the establishment of the Alana James Memeorial Culinary Scholarship. Together, these scholarships provide vital financial support to students pursuing post-secondary education. Education has the power to break cycles of financial hardship, opening doors to new opportunities and brighter futures.
“This scholarship will allow me to concentrate more on my coursework and get involved in activities related to my field, and it helps me plan for my journey to medical school both financially and practically,” shared one recipient.
By easing financial barriers, this scholarship empowers students to focus on their studies, embrace new opportunities, and ultimately give back to their communities—creating lasting change for generations to come.
Aging in Place With Care
This year, JFS expanded its Better at Home program, ensuring more seniors can live independently with dignity.
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Aging in Place With Care
This year, JFS expanded its Better at Home program, ensuring more seniors can live independently with dignity. Through essential services like housekeeping, transportation, and companionship, we’re helping older adults stay safe, connected, and empowered in their own homes.
For Ruth, a 78-year-old widow, this program has been life-changing. With limited mobility, daily tasks became overwhelming—until JFS stepped in. Now, a volunteer visits her weekly, helping with groceries and providing much-needed companionship. “It’s not just about the help,” Ruth shares. “It’s about knowing someone cares.”
Thanks to our partnership with United Way and dedicated volunteers, we’re making aging at home possible for more seniors than ever before.
Mental Health and Innovation
Accessible mental health care is central to JFS’s mission—and the need has never been greater.
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Mental Health and Innovation
Accessible mental health care is central to JFS’s mission—and the need has never been greater. Since 2020, demand for therapy has soared. At one point, clients waited up to six months for care.
To meet this urgent need, JFS launched a digital assessment tool through Tickit Health, empowering clients and speeding up access to care. We also increased capacity by expanding our successful intern program and partnering with contracted registered counsellors.
This flexible and innovative model better supports clients and emerging mental health professionals, and ensures affordable, compassionate therapy for all. By June 2024, every person on our waitlist had been connected to care.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, JFS continues to offer life-changing counselling services—helping people find hope, healing, and a path forward.
Partnership Rooted in Inclusion
This meaningful partnership between JFS and JQT grew from a shared vision: to foster a more inclusive and affirming environment for the Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ community.
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Partnership Rooted in Inclusion
This meaningful partnership between JFS and JQT grew from a shared vision: to foster a more inclusive and affirming environment for the Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Guided by this vision, we are working together to ensure everyone feels seen, supported, and valued.
Through the JQT Mental Health Support Series, we are addressing critical service gaps. This initiative provides affirming mental health resources, shows, and workshops to support well-being and social inclusion.
"The show was a lovely way to address an important issue in our community--our ageing population and support for LGBTQIA+ seniors. Thank you for tackling this service gap in such a humorous and heartfelt way.”
By partnering together, JFS and JQT are creating safe spaces where Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals can connect, heal, and thrive.
Sowing Seeds of Connection and Growth
The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden (VJCG) has flourished as a vibrant space for learning, connection, and sustainability.
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Sowing Seeds of Connection and Growth
The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden (VJCG) has flourished as a vibrant space for learning, connection, and sustainability. A highlight of the year was the Jewish Veggie Voyagers program, where elementary school children participated in hands-on workshops, planting seeds and harvesting crops. These young gardeners not only learned about the journey of food but also developed a deeper appreciation for the earth, healthy nutrition, and the importance of community.
Watching these children engage with nature and experience the joy of harvesting their own food was truly inspiring. The garden is more than just a place to grow food; it’s a space where our community comes together, nurtures future leaders, and promotes sustainability.
Learn more at jewishcommunitygarden.ca.
Supper Club: Where Food Tells Our Stories
At JFS, food is more than nourishment—it’s a powerful way to build connection, celebrate identity, and bring people together.
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Supper Club: Where Food Tells Our Stories
At JFS, food is more than nourishment—it’s a powerful way to build connection, celebrate identity, and bring people together. Recognizing the importance of cultural preservation and shared experience, JFS partnered with the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC to host From India to Vancouver, a special Supper Club event.
Eli Joseph and his aunt Esther Joseph Giffen shared their family’s migration story—from Karachi to Mumbai to Vancouver—through a meal reflecting their roots. Guests not only enjoyed the flavors of their journey but also witnessed the profound role food plays in preserving culture.
This special evening highlighted the diverse Jewish Community in Vancouver and reminded us how food and storytelling can bring people together across generations.
Bringing Nourishment and Warmth: Jerry's Story
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jerry has always believed in the power of community.
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Bringing Nourishment and Warmth: Jerry's Story
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jerry has always believed in the power of community. After a fulfilling career in dentistry, he retired in 2019—but slowing down was never in the cards for him. Just a few months later, he found a new purpose: delivering food hampers and hot meals to those who need them most.
Since early 2020, Jerry has been a familiar, friendly face on his weekly delivery routes, ensuring that vulnerable members of our community not only receive nourishment but also feel seen and cared for. For Jerry, it’s more than just dropping off a meal—it’s about the warm smiles, the heartfelt thank-yous, and the connections he’s built along the way.
“JFS is a first-class organization that truly makes a difference,” Jerry says. “Knowing that I can brighten someone’s day, even in a small way, is incredibly rewarding.”
“I am writing to say that I am no longer in need of your grocery programs anymore. Thank you so much for all your help over the past few months. It is made an incredible difference in our lives, and I cannot thank you all enough for what you are doing for the community.”
- Former Food Security Client
Innovation Through Collaboration
This year, with the support of over 1,800 donors, JFS touched more than 3,000 lives, engaged 200+ volunteers, collaborated with 100+ partners, and was powered by a dedicated team of 120+ staff.
Each number represents resilience, hope, and transformation and speaks volumes about the vital role JFS plays in our community.
Innovators: 18 Years of Lighting the Way
What a night! The 18th Annual Innovators Cocktail Reception, presented by Pollock Clinics, raised $420,000 thanks to 300+ generous supporters—supporting food assistance, mental health care, addiction support, and advocacy for over 3,000 people.
Save the Date for the 2025 Innovators event, Igniting Change on May 27th! Details and tickets at jfsvancouver.ca/innovators.
Thank You to Our Donors
Your support is invaluable to us and your generosity fuels transformation and gives us the ability to dream bigger.
To our anonymous donors, and to each of the individuals who donated between $1 and $999, your compassion and generosity is cherished by all of those who have found resources and support because of you!
The list of donors reflects the giving period of September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.
A Lifetime of Giving, A Legacy of Care: Sharon's Story
For over five decades, Sharon Kates has been a steadfast supporter of JFS, helping to shape its impact on the community. Over the years, she has volunteered her time, contributed to programs like Hanukkah Hampers, Project Isaiah, and Innovators, and helped develop cutting edge programs. She has also established the Sharon Kates Simchat Hochmah Food Bank Fund and left a gift to JFS in her will, ensuring that those facing hunger will always have support.
Celebrating Our Community Partners
We’re deeply grateful for the incredible organizations we’re lucky to partner with every day. Your collaboration, care, and shared commitment make our work possible—and help us create a stronger, more connected community together. Thank you for being part of the journey!
JFS Leadership
Strong governance and staff leadership sustains our mission, ensuring that day-to-day operations and strategic goals work in unity to support our vision of lives uplifted, a world repaired.
“I would like to send my appreciation to all the volunteers and to all the people who donated. And I would like to thank you for thinking of me. I’m here all by myself, but now I don’t feel alone. I want to thank you, and please send all my love and appreciation to everybody.”
- JFS Client
Financial Review 2023-2024 Fiscal Year
You can view our complete set of audited financial statements at jfsvancouver.ca/financial-statements.
Revenue: $7.5M
$0.3M
$1.9M
$0.3M
$1.7M
$3.3M
Expenses: $7.1M
$1.1M
$3.3M
$0.8M
$0.4M
$1.5M
"I have appreciated Nicole's overall approach, which feels simultaneously warm, open, direct, and adaptive. Her efforts feel rooted in genuine interest, empathy, and care for community. I am also grateful to JFS for the sliding scale that makes these services accessible."
- JFS Counselling Client