Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services

The work KJFS does would not be possible without our amazing partners and  volunteers, and we are so thankful for all their support and hard work in our community. There are a variety of ways for you to get involved with Jewish Family Services, including: 

Jewish Family Services

Every financial gift, both great and small, makes a tremendous difference in the work we do. To make a general gift supporting all of Jewish Family Services, click here. 

Diaper Bank

Click here to direct a gift specifically to the Diaper Bank. 

Refugee Resettlement and Newcomer Services

Click here to direct a gift specifically to the Refugee and Newcomer Services program. 

Essentials Pantry

Click here to direct a gift specifically to the Essentials Pantry. 

Volunteer:

Sign up to Volunteer or contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information.

Host a Diaper Drive or Period Supply Drive: This is a fun and easy way to involve friends, co-workers, classmates, book clubs, or just to host on your own!  Set a date, set your donation drop points, and get the word out that you are looking for supplies!

KJFS can assist with details and hand-outs, as well as promote your drive on our social media accounts.  This is a great way to both collect product for distribution, as well as raise awareness in our community around diaper need and period poverty.

PJ Library

PJ Library and the JCA are proud to connect families in Southern Maine to the local Jewish community. To find out more about local programs or where to connect Jewishly in Southern Maine, please contact us here at the JCA.

Center Day Camp

Center Day Camp fosters a strong sense of belonging and connection. All are welcome, and everyone at camp is valued and celebrated. Counselors stress kindness, respect, and character in everything that they do. Our grounding and history as a Jewish camp means that our program offers a unique focus on universal values like integrity, honesty, responsibility, caring for one another, and for the earth. We are a child-centered program that seeks to support campers as they build confidence, make new friends, explore new interests, discover their abilities, and learn new skills. 

Scholarships & Funds

Scholarships allow our programs and initiatives to touch a broad array of community members for whom participation might not otherwise be possible. View a full listing of our scholarships here. We are committed to inclusive programming for all individuals and families who want to become part of the vibrant life of this agency.

Donate to Scholarships | Donate to Charlie Miller Award 

Center Day Camp: In its idyllic setting on Sebago Lake, CDC proudly continues its 65-year history of providing a classic summer camp experience to campers ages 3-15. Anchored by Jewish values, activities like swimming, archery, theater, hiking and Israeli Culture bring campers closer to the natural world, to one another, and to themselves. Scholarships allow us to welcome campers whose families cannot afford to send them to camp, and also to help families lengthen the amount of time a camper can spend at camp each summer. Awards are made based on need and historical relationship to camp.

Early Childhood Education: Our accredited and acclaimed preschool program in Portland continues to grow, with over 80 children this year in five classrooms (including, for the first time, infants and 1-2 year old's!) The program draws on the “High Scope” curriculum, a Reggio-Emilia based, student-led approach in which teachers and students to work together to create an active and joyful classroom where learning and play intersect. Through scholarships, we help defray the cost of additional days of care. Scholarships are awarded based on need, taking into consideration a family’s total financial circumstances.

Adult Jewish Learning: Our programs support adult Jewish learners to embrace and explore the richness of Jewish tradition from a pluralistic, dynamic and energetic perspective. Faculty are drawn from the local community, and courses range from biblical text study to Jewish legal ethics.

Community Leadership Development: As a member of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the Jewish Community Center Association (JCCA), and the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies (AJFCA), the JCA benefits from many opportunities to join with the national Jewish Community for trainings, conferences and retreats. Where possible, we provide scholarship support to lay leadership who wish to attend these programs and are committed to bringing resources and ideas back into our community. Scholarships may be in the form of travel stipends, conference fees, or help to defray the cost of books and other course materials.

Charlie Miller Award: The Charlie Miller Award was established in memory of Charlie Miller, whose leadership helped to define and shape our community for decades. Charlie was a true mensch, bringing joy, support, and care to everyone with whom he interacted. He was a larger-than-life figure, with a tremendous personal presence, a searching and seeking intelligence, and an incredibly generous spirit. He spread happiness to his family and to everyone surrounding him. He was an accomplished and well-respected attorney, a strong advocate for justice, and a leader of legendary song circles that captivated generations of children in our community.

The Charlie Miller Award is given each year to a high school senior who represents the best of our community; someone who freely shares their talents and gifts, and whose kindness and care for others spreads joy and helps to bring healing to the world.

All donations received in Charlie's memory will be applied toward endowing The Charlie Miller Award.