WJCS

04/24/2026

As a high school student who experienced relationship abuse, Stefanie sought counseling at Margaret's Place, a program offered in partnership by WJCS and Joe Torre's Safe at Home. Inspired by her social worker, Stefanie became one herself and, ultimately, became head of the Margaret's Place program. "Without Margaret's Place, I wouldn't be where I am," she said. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPOlZCUSt1w

04/23/2026

It's and what better way to show our amazing volunteers how much we appreciate their commitment to WJCS than inviting them to an Ice Cream Social? Thank you to all our volunteers--those who could and could not attend today's ice cream bash at our headquarters. You are instrumental in helping to strengthen our Westchester community and ensuring that all people, whatever their age and background, feel supported. And, of course, thank you to for your delicious ice cream.

04/23/2026

We were privileged to debut a portrait exhibit of Westchester Holocaust survivors at last week's Gala and have many of those survivors in attendance. Thank you to Yael Friedland who photographed the survivors and prepared these powerful portraits along with their moving stories of survival. Yael, who co-founded the WJCS Share Shabbat program and was the recipient of WJCS's first-ever Young Leadership Award at our Gala, plans for her exhibit, “Survivors Among Us: Stories From Our Community,” to be shown at schools throughout Westchester.

04/22/2026

This week we're celebrating ! All of us at WJCS are so grateful to the 300+ incredible individuals who have given their time, energy, and hearts to WJCS in the past year. Volunteers play a vital role in helping us support, uplift, and empower individuals and families across Westchester.

Whether it is in hours spent sorting donations in our food pantry, packing care packages or hygiene kits, delivering meals, tutoring high schoolers, assisting individuals with disabilities, making a call to check in on someone in need, or strengthening our programs behind the scenes, every act of service, no matter how small it may seem in the moment, becomes part of the larger impact volunteers make.

WJCS volunteers help people in our community feel seen and supported. That is a gift that cannot be measured. We are honored to have such dedicated partners in this work.

If you are interested in learning about volunteer opportunities at WJCS, please visit wjcs.com to or contact Marci Allen, WJCS Volunteer and Event Coordinator at mallen@wjcs.com or 914-761-0600 x2207.

04/22/2026

Today is , a time set aside to appreciate and commit to preserving the natural beauty of our planet. We are fortunate that Westchester County has so many beautiful parks to visit. With the weather getting warmer, take advantage of being outside. Study after study has shown the emotional benefits of being in nature. Find out about special events in celebrating Earth Day at:

From a family-friendly festival to a countywide park cleanup, here are ways to celebrate Mother Nature for Earth Day.

04/21/2026

Miriam, a Holocaust survivor, didn't talk about her war experiences with her colleagues at NYU, nor even with her children. But four years ago, she and her husband began attending WJCS events, activities, and discussions for Holocaust survivors--and her life changed. In this moving video, shown at las week's WJCS Gala, Miriam shares how WJCS helped her find community and a sense of belonging. https://youtu.be/MrwfVvCVmi0

If you'd like to support WJCS services and programs for Holocaust survivors in Westchester, our Give for Good Auction is still going on. Just click here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/WJCS2026Gala/event/g4g/

Meet Miriam: The Benefits and Comfort Provided by WJCS Holocaust Survivor Services

04/20/2026

Many thanks to NYS Assemblymember Chris Burdick for attending our WJCS Gala last week! And thank you for presenting Yael Friedland, the winner of our first-ever Young Leadership Award, with a proclamation. We so appreciate your support of WJCS and all you do for the Westchester community.

This past Wednesday, I was delighted to attend the 2026 Gala of WJCS, one of the most effective community organizations in Westchester. WJCS provides a wide array of services, including for those suffering from mental health disorders, victims of domestic abuse, survivors of the Holocaust, and individuals with developmental disabilities (and their families). Their work is profoundly impactful and literally has saved lives.

It was my honor to present to Yael Friedland a NYS Assembly Citation, in recognition of her WJCS Young Leadership Award. Yael is the founder of Share Shabbat, a WJCS program that connects volunteers with Holocaust survivors to deliver monthly Shabbat meals, share stories, and build lasting relationships.

04/20/2026

At our Gala last week, we shared a video of Robbie and Ben, a powerful story showing how volunteering at WJCS led from providing emotional support to developing a deep friendship to transforming two people's lives. Volunteering makes an impact. Volunteering changes lives. Please watch this moving video:
https://youtu.be/UioYnEykChU

Meet Robbie and Ben—The Power of Volunteering and Social Support

04/19/2026

No need for FOMO! If you were not able to attend the WJCS Gala on Wednesday evening, you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/1183825205/c27557f8e4?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Enjoy! And if you would like to contribute to our Give for Good Auction, it's not too late. Just click here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/WJCS2026Gala/event/g4g/

04/18/2026

What an incredible night at our WJCS Shelanu Target Sweep event!
While it was filled with energy, laughter, and friendly competition, what truly made the night special was the meaningful skill-building happening in real time. Members practiced important social skills, learned how to navigate a store when they could not find an item, and built confidence in asking staff for help. They also worked on budgeting, planning, and creating practical shopping lists for everyday needs.

Most importantly, everyone had a great time doing it together. Here is what some of our members had to say:
“I liked finding everything on my list, it made me feel independent.”
“I didn’t know where something was, but I asked for help and found it.”
“This was fun, I want to do it again!”
These moments are what Shelanu is all about, building independence, confidence, and connection in a supportive and fun environment.
Thank you to everyone who made this such a success!

Learn morre about WJCS Shelanu at: https://www.wjcs.com/services/disabilities-autism/shelanu-supper-club/

04/17/2026

Joe Torre delivered a very special message at our Gala on Wednesday evening, celebrating the partnership of WJCS and Safe at Home (SAH), a foundation established by him and, his wife, Ali. For 20 years, WJCS has partnered with SAH, counseling high school students in Westchester about relationship violence and educating them about how to build healthy relationships. We are so proud to have collaborated with SAH and helping to transform lives with the Margaret's Place program. https://youtu.be/by3igT05T8U