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Newsletter
September 2025
JFSC Connections
Enriching Lives and Strengthening Communities
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We’re so glad you’re here! As we move through the year, we’re reminded of the incredible impact we can make when we come together with purpose and compassion. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, or simply shared our mission with others, your support is helping us create real change in our community.
In this issue, you’ll find inspiring stories, exciting updates, and ways you can continue to be part of the journey. Let’s keep the momentum going—because together, we’re making a difference. |
| Did you Know?
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Full Plates, Full Hearts: Tzedakah for a Sweet New Year
JFSC is holding a special High Holiday Food Drive, collecting food for The Wynne Thal Pantry to help people in need. From September 22 to October 3.
JFSC celebrated our 1-year anniversary in our new location!
Our staff has grown to 111. We would love for you to come by and have a tour. If you are interested, please contact Lynn Tipper at 403-692-6395 or lynnt@ jfsc.org
The 2025 JFSC Impact Report is here: Our WHY, The Power of Purpose
Cafe Europa: Almost 130 Holocaust Survivors, family caregivers & support staff enjoyed the 5th Annual Café Europa Luncheon at the Carriage House & Conference Centre.
Our very own Will Katz was nominated for the Shem Tov awards! A very deserving award for Will’s volunteerism and impact on JFSC. Mazel Tov Will!
Shem Tov awards |
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Drop off non-perishable food items in donation bins located at:
- Paperny Family JCC
- Beth Tzedec Congregation
- Safeway Glenmore Landing
- Calgary Co-op Oakridge Food Centre
- Sobey’s Bridlewood
- Temple B’nai Tikvah
Most needed items*:
Rice, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jam, canned beans, canned meats and fish, canned soups, whole grain cereal, crackers, granola bars, mayonnaise.
*Other items are welcome, we can accept non-perishable kosher and non-kosher food items, please ensure that food items are within expiry/best before dates.
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The 10th Annual JFSC Martin, Staniloff & Thal Charity Golf Classic was a huge success! It was a beautiful day at the Cottonwood Golf & Country Club. Thank you to all the sponsors, donors and participants for making it all happen!
Hold the date for next year, August 13, 2026. |  |
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With Gratitude
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our long-time anonymous donor and to Stephen’s Backpack Society for their incredible generosity. This September, 152 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to students from elementary through high school. What a meaningful gift to help children start the school year with confidence and the tools they need to succeed. We are truly grateful for this continued support!
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We are thrilled to share that Na’amat Calgary has partnered with JFSC to donate much needed toiletries to the Wynne Thal Pantry. This generous collaboration helps us better serve individuals and families in need, and we are deeply grateful for their support and commitment to our community. |
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Basic Needs Program - Supporting Our Community with Dignity
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Access to food and basic necessities continues to be a pressing issue in our community. With rising food prices, increased living costs, limited affordable housing, and a slow post-pandemic recovery, many individuals and families are facing difficult choices.
At JFSC, we believe in walking alongside those in need—offering support that preserves dignity and encourages long-term self-sufficiency. Through personalized, one-on-one assistance, we help clients strengthen food security and connect with vital community resources. |
| Our Services
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Inessa Kessel – Senior Basic Needs Coordinator
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Originally from Belarus, Inessa immigrated to Israel shortly after completing high school.
With a background in Early Childhood Education, she later moved to Calgary, where she worked as a daycare Director in several facilities—including one at the JCC.
In 2013, she joined the team at JFSC and has since held a variety of roles. |  |
Today, Inessa serves as JFSC’s Senior Basic Needs Coordinator, a role focused on ensuring that individuals and families have access to essential resources such as food, clothing, school supplies, and seasonal supports. Her daily work is guided by a commitment to making sure no one feels forgotten or left behind.
She also leads initiatives like holiday packages for Rosh Hashanah and Passover, back-to-school supplies for children, and the annual Toy Drive—helping families celebrate and begin new seasons with dignity and joy.
Beyond meeting physical needs, she supports newcomer families as they adjust to life in Canada. Her work includes helping them navigate community resources, access essential services, and begin to feel truly at home. She believes that her role is not just about providing necessities—it’s about fostering a sense of security, belonging, and hope.
She also manages reporting for JFSC’s Financial Coaching program, which equips clients with the tools and confidence to take positive steps toward their future.
Inessa believes her work has a meaningful impact on the community by helping families meet their most essential needs. Whether it’s food, clothing, or household items, her efforts help people feel safe, supported, and cared for. She finds purpose in moments when a parent breathes easier knowing their children are fed, or when a newcomer feels welcomed and understood. For her, it’s about restoring dignity, offering hope, and showing people that they are not alone.
What motivates her most is the opportunity to be part of something bigger than herself.
Witnessing the agency’s work—bringing food to tables, creating connections, and offering care when it’s needed most—makes her role deeply meaningful. One particularly memorable moment involved a woman who had given her last bit of food to her cat, unable to bear seeing her companion go hungry. JFSC was able to provide food for both the woman and her pet. The relief and gratitude on her face was unforgettable and served as a powerful reminder of why this work matters—it’s about compassion, dignity, and making people feel cared for in even the smallest, most meaningful ways. |
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The Heart Behind the Wynne Thal Pantry 💙
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In the heart of JFSC, there are members of our community who spread generosity and kindness, directly impacting clients in countless ways.
For many years, Wynne Thal has been a pillar of support, contributing time, energy, and love, to make our community a better place. |  |
Every week, without fail, Wynne can be found tending to a labor of love known as “Wynne’s Pantry” (formerly “Miriam’s Well”). This pantry, appropriately named after her, is filled with shelves of food items and canned goods, all meticulously organized to serve those in need.
“I find it very rewarding to help those less fortunate,” says Wynne. “I am lucky enough that I can always put food on the table.” She not only puts her own words into action, but also has successfully taught her children and grandchildren about generosity and the gift it truly is.
Her grandchildren often accompany her to volunteer, and she’s taught them how to read food labels so they can help too. “I continue to volunteer here because of my relationships with the staff at JFSC and the impact of the organization,” says Wynne.
And for those thinking about volunteering, Wynne says, “Go for it! It is so rewarding, and you will feel appreciated.” Wynne’s generosity for our community doesn’t stop there. She keeps bags filled with seasonal items, food, and hygiene products for unhoused members of our communities in her car as well.
In Wynne Thal, we discover the boundless power of giving. Her legacy at JFSC is a testament to her unwavering dedication, a guiding light that inspires us all to make a difference in our community. Thank you, Wynne, for all that you do. Yasher Koach
Written by: Hannah Carnat-Gronnerud |
| Laugh out Loud
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Our Laugh out Loud Comedy Night was a huge success. Thank you to everyone that attended and made donations. If you want to see more of Jacob Samuel, he just released his new comedy special on Youtube |
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☆ Upcoming Events ☆
JFSC Food Drive – September 22 – October 3rd Bring Donations to the Temple B’nai Tikvah, JCC, Beth Tzedec, CJA & Akiva Academy or drop off at the Glenmore Landing Safeway, Oakridge Co-op or Sobey’s Bridlewood. |
JFSC has an on-going need for volunteers of diverse backgrounds and talents. The most needed area is Memory Care and Friendly Visitor. As a JFSC volunteer, you can touch the lives of those most in need in our community by working together with our staff to provide innovative and vitally needed services to others.
Get ready to make meaningful connections and have a blast! Generations at Play is volunteer-powered program that brings smiles and companionship to seniors living in Calgary, AB. You’ll team up with awesome students, share some great conversations, and enjoy a game or two of your choice. Let the good times roll! Please register as spots are limited. Fall Sessions.
Please contact Sarah Marsh at sarahm@jfsc.org
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Stay Connected! Keep up to date on what’s going on at JFSC - our events, programs, and what we are doing is regularly updated on our website and social media channels. Feel free to follow us, like and share our posts. |
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