Diaper Bank

This year, JFS became the first National Diaper Bank Network participant in Maine; through the purchasing power of the network, we are now able to access diapers and wipes for significantly less than retail price. With the support of many donors and a generous grant from the Fruhman Family Foundation, this year we will distribute over 50,000 diapers. Unfortunately, diaper need is a significant issue in Southern Maine, with many families facing the heartbreaking challenge of deciding between buying diapers, food, or paying rent each month. We offer diapers to families who visit our food pantry, and we also distribute diapers to 5 partnering local pantries. JFS now also distributes menstrual hygiene products and adult incontinence products. ​

Diaper Need Awareness Week

September 26th – October 2nd is Diaper Need Awareness Week, a signature initiative of The National Diaper Bank Network. For the first time Jewish Family Services will be participating and we have partnered with some organization who will be hosting boxes for diaper collection. These organizations are:

• Birth Roots BellytoBaby
• Greenlight Studio
• Congregation Bet Ha'am
• Williston-Immanuel United Church
• Levey Day School - Portland Maine with the help of Girl Scout Troop 1433
• Law Offices of Joe Bornstein and
• Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine
• Jacobs Chiropractic Acupuncture ​

Please stop by at any of these location to donate.

Though Diaper Awareness Week is over, our collection boxes are still around town in the locations mentioned above. You can donate at any of those locations or at the JCA office. During Diaper Awareness Week 3000 diapers were donated. Thank you for the support.​

Give A Pack Program

Join us in closing the diaper gap with the Give A Pack program - just by adding a donation to your order at Jet.com, you can help us distribute even more diapers to the families who need them most.  Learn more at Jet

JFS Teams Up with the NCJW to Meet the Needs of Low-Income Women

JFS has worked hard to evolve programs based on the needs of the community.  For many of the women who visit the JFS Food Pantry, there has been an increased request for menstrual hygiene products (pads, tampons, etc.).  JFS Student Intern, Morgan Dickey, began to reach out to organizations across the country to find access to reasonably priced products and developed a partnership with Period. The Menstrual Movement in Portland, Oregon. Period. The Menstrual Movement​ mission is to manage and celebrate menstrual hygiene through advocacy, education, and service-- through the global distribution of feminine hygiene product care packages to women in need, and the engagement of youth leadership with our nationwide network of campus chapters.  JFS received its first shipment of products in November and distributed packages to 150 women.  As the program grows and requests increase, JFS is thrilled to partner with the Maine Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) to consistently have product on its shelves!  NCJW’s generous support will provide JFS the capacity to continue to distribute menstrual hygiene products to over 100 women per month for the next year!