By Elina Zilberberg, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, A2J CC
Since its founding, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County has been committed to creating solutions, promoting dignity, and inspiring humanity.
Over the years, JFS has committed to and participated in positive climate actions, including energy sustainability, the recycling of unused and discarded foods, necessities, and furniture, and contributing to Ann Arbor’s A2 Zero Carbon Neutrality Plan, a city resolution designed to leave Tree Town with a zero-carbon footprint by the year 2030.
Regarding these actions, Chief Operations Officer Elina Zilberberg participated in a sit-down interview to explain the improvements made to their main location along State Street, the first of which was an energy audit for the building after it was purchased in 2019.
“The audit revealed that we had a lot of the old lighting around the building.” Elina said. “So, we started writing grants to find the funding to replace most lighting with LEDs, to save a lot of energy.”
Elina said that JFS is continuously looking to improve how the organization uses energy and is currently investigating replacing the air conditioning units, installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger for staff, utilizing solar panels, and constructing a geothermal power system. However, applying these changes does not come without financial burdens.
“It’s always a balance whenever we can make these decisions as a non-profit. We always have to ask, do we have enough funding to create this opportunity?” Elina said. “And obviously, for something like geothermal, we would have to be tapping into an architectural firm to suggest if that is possible.”
Alongside transitioning to renewable energy, JFS have contributed towards the distribution of food and home necessities to those in need, through their Nourish Nutrition Services program.
Gloria Helfand, JFS Pantry volunteer
“JFS has always been conscious about recycling things, finding donated goods like furniture, household items, and some personal items…” Elina said. “We are consciously contributing to the recycling of some wonderful items that somebody else enjoyed for many years, for other people to enjoy now.”
“The Shalom Food Pantry, which is part of the Nourish Nutrition Services, is accessible to anyone who is suffering from food insecurity or cannot gain access to personal care items such as diapers, baby formula, and such.” Elina said.
JFS also has a running partnership with Food Gatherers, where food is redistributed throughout the county to communities that need it. Elina shared that businesses like Zingerman’s and Panera Bread often supply the organization with food to give to clients.
“We have a warehouse space that was generously donated by Tyner Furniture, which we use to collect donated furnishings and household items and keep them until they need to be distributed to clients,” Elina said.
JFS strongly believes in the mission of A2J Climate Circle and the responsibility of taking care of our environment while delivering quality services to the community members.
About the Ann Arbor Jewish Climate Circle (A2J CC)
Most Jews in the Ann Arbor area believe that climate change is an important issue—perhaps the most significant challenge of our generation. Most of us also understand that Jewish tradition calls us to improve the world for future generations.
The A2J Climate Circle is designed to bring our community together in climate action and create momentum and support.
Started by the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, with Annie Wolock (Federation) as the leader, the A2J Climate Circle Planning Committee currently includes Ellen Abramson (Jewish Family Services), Rena Basch (Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation), Mike Shriberg (Temple Beth Emeth), and Michael Simon (Beth Israel Congregation). The Planning Committee contacted local Jewish organizations to partner with A2J CC on this initiative.
All area Jewish organizations and groups, large and small, are encouraged to join us.