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BAY AREA

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

(415) 449-1200  •  jfcs.org
Once again, readers have chosen to laud the good works of Jewish Family and Children’s Services based in San Francisco. The organization helped more than 120,000 people during the pandemic and is helping still, by expanding housing opportunities for neurodivergent adults, offering academic scholarships, aiding with adoptions and providing LGBTQ support. Families also look to JFCS for senior and end-of-life counseling and assistance for émigrés, Holocaust survivors, people with disabilities and families in crisis. 

SAN FRANCISCO

Hebrew Free Loan

(415) 546-9902  •  hflasf.org
Helping those in need since 1897, Hebrew Free Loan reports a repayment rate of over 99 percent for loans made to families facing emergencies, small businesses, the recently unemployed, first-time home buyers, first-generation students who need help affording an education and couples pursuing fertility assistance or pursuing adoption. You don’t have to be Jewish to apply if you are an immediate family member or business partner of a Jewish individual, an employee of a Jewish organization or a student from a lower- income home who is referred by a partner agency.

Jewish National Fund

(800) 542-8733  •  jnf.org
J. readers have selected the Jewish National Fund for the Readers’ Choice award in the Charitable Organization category for the first time. Since its founding in 1901, the JNF-USA has worked to be the leading organization supporting the land and people of Israel. “Everything we do — every project, initiative, and campaign we take on — is integral to our vision of building and connecting to our land… dedicated to population growth in the north and south, connecting the next generation to Israel, infrastructure development, ecology, forestation, heritage preservation, and more.” 

EAST BAY

Alameda County Community Food Bank

Oakland
510-635-3663  •  accfb.org
Back for a second year in Readers’ Choice, Alameda County’s Food Bank makes it their business to get people fed with a hot meal or connected with free groceries. In order to help the 1 in 4 Alameda County residents facing possible food insecurity, the organization partners with more than 200 food pantries, hot-meal programs, senior centers and other nonprofits to distribute millions of pounds of food every year. Donations and volunteers are always needed!

Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay

BERKELEY
(510) 704-7475  •  jfcs-eastbay.org
“Compassion in action, commitment to all” is the mission of the JFCS East Bay, which serves seniors, other adults, families, children, Holocaust survivors and refugees in the East Bay. This year, JFCS East Bay is working with more than 160 newly arrived Ukrainian individuals, and last year, it resettled more than 860 Afghan evacuees. In a nod to these good works, J. readers continue to recognize the organization.

Shalom Bayit

BERKELEY
(866) 742-5667  •  shalom-bayit.org
Northern California’s first and only Jewish agency dedicated to ending domestic violence, Shalom Bayit works to foster the social change and community response necessary to eradicate domestic violence in the Jewish community. Through several key programs, the organization promotes peaceful homes and families, teaches skills for healthy relationships and works to build a safe, vibrant Jewish community free from violence and abuse. Programs include counseling for survivors of abuse, community education, and Love Shouldn’t Hurt, a dating violence prevention program for youth.

< Go back to Readers’ Choice 2022 Listings