24 | SEPTEMBER 2 • 2021 

JVS Skill Building Assistance Programs
Provide Aid to People with Disabilities 

Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, 
collard greens, kale and herbs 
such as basil, rosemary and 
parsley, are all being grown by 
Metro Detroiters with disabili-
ties who are taking part in JVS 
Human Services’ Skill Building 
Assistance (SBA) program. 
Every Tuesday and 
Thursday morning, up to 
eight participants take a trip 
to Love Garden, a communi-
ty farm located at Chalfonte 
and Dacosta roads in the 
Brightmoor neighborhood 
of Detroit, where they plant 
seeds, mow the lawn, turn the 
soil, weed, water, and fertilize 
the produce they are growing. 
Keep Growing Detroit, an 
organization which promotes 
food sovereignty and commu-
nity engagement in Detroit, 
helps to support the program 

by providing plants and seeds.
When produce is ready for 
picking, it is then gathered and 
taken to JVS Human Services’ 
building in Detroit (4250 
Woodward Avenue) where it is 
sold in a pop-up SBA Garden 
Market. All proceeds are 
ploughed back into the SBA 
program.
Work on the farm will con-
tinue until early October when 
the participants prepare the 
beds for winter. 
There are also other SBA 
programs throughout Metro 
Detroit where participants are 
involved in meaningful vol-
unteer work at local nonprofit 
organizations. All programs 
are designed to learn new 
skills so that participants can 
be more integrated into the 
community. 

Jewish Family Service Earns Highest
4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

Jewish Family Service earned 
its ninth consecutive 4-star 
rating from Charity Navigator, 
the leading charity evaluator 
in America. 
 It is the highest possible 
rating and indicates that JFS 
adheres to sector best practices 
and executes its mission in a 
financially efficient way. 
Attaining a 4-star rating ver-
ifies that JFS of Metro Detroit 
demonstrates strong financial 
health and a commitment to 
accountability and transpar-
ency. 

Only 4% of the charities 
evaluated by Charity Navigator 
have received at least nine 
consecutive 4-star evaluations, 
indicating that JFS outper-
forms most other charities in 
the country. 
 “No organization can do 
any better than this, which 
makes me so proud,” says JFS 
CEO Perry Ohren. 
“This should overwhelmingly 
reassure the community about 
Jewish Family Service’s ability 
to use dollars prudently to help 
others.
” 

JVS

OUR COMMUNITY

Workers at Love Garden 
community farm in Detroit

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www.lafata.com • 586.930.1703
 586.930.1703

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