Grant gives Jewish Family Service of the Desert needed boost
Few organizations were immune to the effects of the global pandemic several years ago. Jewish Family Service of the Desert in Palm Desert was hit hard, too, seeing all of its in-person counseling vanish.
“We had to figure out how to provide telecare services,” said Kraig Johnson, Executive Director of the organization. “And at the time, we had lost a considerable amount of income through insurance reimbursement for those services. So, like many organizations, we were challenged.”
A grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) through the Robert and Cheryl Fey Donor Advised Community Fund changed everything.
“Those resources helped us find support for all the programs hugely impacted by pandemic,” Johnson said.
The organization’s programs are extensive, in fact, particularly counseling services, which assist individuals, adults, couples, families, children, adolescents, and seniors.
Telecare was a great addition, but “people want to come back to the office now,” Johnson said. “And I find that kind of a sign of the community’s health. So, these funds were integral into helping us convert our services into telecare, whether it be helping with purchasing of more appropriate telecommunication devices, computers, better phones, etc.
“And then traveling phones,” he added. “A lot of our therapists are still working remotely.”
Other Jewish Family Service of the Desert programs stand out. One, in particular, focuses on community outreach.
“The goals of this program are to reduce/eliminate isolation, specifically among our local seniors,” Johnson said. “We have a program called Let’s Do Lunch. It’s usually twice a month, and it’s a two-hour program that includes some sort of education, which helps our seniors.”
Various “games” are tossed into the mix, too. These are designed to cleverly enhance cognitive challenges.
“We’re trying to keep our seniors’ cognition as fresh as possible,” Johnson said. “We also administer a quarterly geriatric depression scale to check in on their mood. It’s a very well-rounded program that, again, would not have been able to continue without IECF support.”
Another unique component is Cafe Europa, which is very similar to Let’s Do Lunch, yet it’s specifically geared for local Holocaust survivors.
Johnson also notes the Friendly Visitor program, which offers a unique one-on-one approach to help reduce isolation. This takes place between volunteers and clients, and includes a call tree, which was formed during the pandemic when programs were shuttered. These weekly calls can range from five to 15 minutes.
“Our volunteers who run the program have gotten to know some of these clients, and oftentimes, we see that we’re the only outreach or outlet for them,” Johnson said. “Other parts of their lives have been watching TV or talking to the cat, and it can be, at times, an unhealthy existence.”
Another case management program truly stands out.
“We’re the only agency in the Valley for a number of years now, since the closing of the United Lift program, where they were providing support for overdue rent, utilities, food, and medications,” Johnson said.
Individuals interested in learning more about the organization or perhaps becoming a patron, can visit the group’s website, which also list calendar events, tributes, information about food distribution for those in need, and other resources.
“When it comes down to us, and really any other 501c3 programs down here, it’s the communities and the people who need us and depend on us, who suffer if we have to suspend or close programs,” Johnson said. “IECF and its donors are really generous with so many agencies, not just ours, obviously, but the support we received was significant.
“It wasn’t 200 bucks,” he added. “It was significant support that allowed us to literally keep the lights on. Talk about meaningful and well-timed.”
Learn more at jfsdesert.org.
This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, June 2025.
Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.
