How Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley Helps Newcomers and Survivors Feel at Home
By Mikey J Smith
In the heart of Silicon Valley, where innovation and opportunity shape daily life, thousands of families are working to rebuild their lives from the ground up. For many, that journey begins at Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley (JFS Silicon Valley), an organization that has spent decades helping immigrants, refugees, and Holocaust survivors find stability, dignity, and community.
As one of Family Giving Tree’s valued Holiday Wish Drive partner agencies, JFS Silicon Valley ensures that the season of giving reaches those who need it most. From newcomer families adjusting to life in a new country to Holocaust survivors struggling to make ends meet, their clients embody resilience. Each year, the gifts distributed through the Holiday Wish Drive reinforce a powerful message: you belong here.
A New Beginning for Newcomers
Founded on refugee resettlement work, JFS Silicon Valley has become a lifeline for newcomers navigating the challenges of starting over in the Bay Area. With the national refugee program suspended this year, the organization continues to support families who have already arrived and still need help finding stability.
“Many of our clients came here with nothing more than a suitcase,” said Debbie Michels, VP of Community Engagement. “They’ve left everything behind—their homes, family, friends, their entire lives. And yet, they’re so eager to rebuild.”
For these families, simple gifts such as a warm jacket, a book, or even a bicycle can hold extraordinary meaning. “When a child receives a bike,” explained Susan Frazer, CEO, “it helps them feel like every other kid on the block. Suddenly, they’re part of the community. They’re not ‘other.’ They belong.”
That sense of normalcy can be transformative. According to JFS Silicon Valley, many refugee children experience depression and isolation as they adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. Feeling included, even through something as small as a holiday gift, can help lift that weight and build confidence.
One of JFS Silicon Valley’s recent success stories tells this beautifully. A Ukrainian mother arrived in the Bay Area with her young son, separated from her husband who remained abroad due to visa complications. She felt alone and uncertain, unsure how to begin again in a new country. JFS Silicon Valley’s case managers immediately helped her find safe, temporary housing and later secured a subsidized apartment near her son’s school. When they learned of her dream to become a cake decorator, they helped her get a job at a local Safeway bakery—within walking distance of both her home and her son’s classroom. The team helped her furnish the apartment, learn the basics of renting, and connect to community resources. Today, both mother and son are thriving. What once seemed impossible became a story of stability and belonging, made possible by compassion, persistence, and the kind of community support that organizations like Family Giving Tree help extend
The Numbers Behind the Need
In Santa Clara County, roughly 41% of residents are first-generation immigrants, making it one of the most diverse counties in the country. Yet that diversity can hide deep inequities. The United Way’s 2025 ALICE Report found that nearly 27% of Bay Area households struggle to afford basic needs, even when adults are working full-time.
For refugee families, the challenge is often greater. Limited English skills, few professional connections, and high housing costs make the path to stability steep. Still, research shows that with proper support, immigrants and refugees quickly become strong contributors to the local economy by starting businesses, filling essential jobs, and strengthening their communities.
JFS Silicon Valley’s work bridges that gap between hardship and hope by offering English classes, career services, legal assistance, and housing support. Through partnerships like Family Giving Tree’s Holiday Wish Drive, those efforts extend beyond the essentials and reach something deeper: joy.
Honoring Survivors, Supporting Dignity
Beyond refugee services, JFS Silicon Valley also supports 350 Holocaust survivors in Santa Clara County, most of whom live below the poverty line. The agency provides case management, home care, and basic items such as food, towels, and linens. These small comforts mean everything to elders who once endured the unthinkable.
One story that stands out is that of an 89-year-old survivor who lives with her adult son, who has disabilities. Their previous low-income housing was infested with rats, and the landlord repeatedly ignored the problem. Both mother and son were getting sick, and the situation had become unsafe. JFS Silicon Valley’s case manager stepped in, filed reports, and fought to move them into clean, secure housing using their vouchers. Today, they’re thriving in a healthy environment, and the survivor is once again receiving the home care she needs. It’s a simple story of advocacy and compassion, but for this family, it meant the difference between surviving and living with dignity
That visibility is something Family Giving Tree understands deeply. Every gift given through the Holiday Wish Drive—a blanket, a toy, a warm coat—serves as a reminder that no one in our community is invisible.
The Power of Shared Humanity
Though rooted in Jewish values, JFS Silicon Valley’s doors are open to all. Its guiding principles—welcome the stranger, repair the world, and respect and dignity for all—extend far beyond faith. In practice, that means serving clients of all religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds: Ukrainian mothers, Afghan fathers, elderly survivors, and newly arrived families learning English together.
It’s a model of compassion and coexistence that mirrors the spirit of Family Giving Tree’s mission. Together, our organizations build a bridge between generosity and impact, ensuring that every person, regardless of where they come from, has a place to belong during the holidays and beyond.
Bringing Joy. Growing Hope. Creating Community.
When you donate through the Family Giving Tree Holiday Wish Drive, you’re not just providing a gift. You’re helping create a sense of home for families who have left everything behind, and offering dignity to those who have given everything to survive.
This season, let’s continue building a Bay Area where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated.
Because when we give, we don’t just meet needs—we build belonging.
