75th Anniversary Celebration Begins for JFCS
July 25, 2011 - Princeton Online
July 27, 2011 - Pennington Post
August 5, 2011 - The Princeton Packet

(left to right), Jeri Schaefer, Joyce Kalstein and Arthur Kravitz proudly hold up the new Jewish Family & Children’s Service logo highlighting 75 years of community service and families helping families in Princeton, Mercer and Bucks County.

Princeton, New Jersey, July 25, 2011 — In 1937 the average cost of a new house was $4,100, a gallon of gasoline cost ten cents, a new car was $760 and unemployment was 14.3%. Howard Hughes set a record for transcontinental air flight, making the trip from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes; the world’s first full-length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs debuted; Amelia Earhart disappeared attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world; the Hindenburg exploded and Joe DiMaggio hit his first grand slammer. It was also the year that the first concentration camp, Buchenwald opened in Germany with 300 prisoners, soon to grow to 80,000. Amidst all of the trials and tribulations of that year, Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County (JFCS) opened its doors and today marks its 75th year of community service.

“Our 75th anniversary celebration will honor our founders, who in the middle of the worst depression in American history had the faith and vision to establish this agency to help those in the community who were in need,” said Linda Meisel, Executive Director for JFCS. “We are excited about our upcoming events which include our traveling historical project spotlighting the years of collected agency archival materials and featuring interviews with past presidents. We will showcase the JFCS Historical Project at municipal offices, libraries, schools and senior centers within our community, to show that even in times of despair, people can turn it around and serve the greater good,” said Meisel.

The agency will run other events throughout the year, culminating in the Diamond Jubilee Gala on February 25, 2012. An intergenerational, community wide, family bingo night will take place on December 4, 2011 and a Cantor’s Concert is slated for the spring. Additionally, a permanent art project is being discussed to focus on the agency’s 75 years of community giving and support.

Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Mercer County is a nonprofit, non-sectarian agency providing social services, counseling and support to individuals, families, children and teens. Professional, licensed social workers offer one-on-one and group counseling, family education, crisis and domestic violence support, re-employment assistance, grief and bereavement programs, and services for special needs children and their siblings. Services include food vouchers, meals on wheels, the kosher food pantry and kosher cafes, which serve thousands of meals to the elderly. The Secure@Home program is a vital program which allows participants to retain their independence and age at home. Youth programs include leadership, social skills and peer education.