JFSC celebrates 65 years of showing up: Why Community Care still matters

by Roxanne Droppo, Executive Director, JFSC

(Calgary) – This year, JFSC celebrates 65 years of serving our community.

Milestones invite reflection. They prompt us to look back at where we began and forward to where we are headed. But most importantly, they remind us why we exist in the first place.

For 65 years, JFSC has stood beside individuals and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments, when a job is lost, when food is scarce, when mental health feels overwhelming, when a senior is navigating aging alone, or when a Holocaust Survivor needs support delivered with dignity and remembrance.

While programs and services evolve over time, the heart of our mission has remained constant: meet people where they are, respond with compassion, and strengthen the fabric of our community.

In today’s world, that mission feels more urgent than ever.

Economic pressures continue to strain families. Mental health challenges affect individuals across every age group. Older adults face increasing isolation. Healthcare systems recognize that well-being extends beyond clinical treatment and into the social determinants of health, connection, stability, and support.

Community-based organizations like JFSC play a critical role in addressing these interconnected needs. When we provide basic needs, we prevent food insecurity. When we offer mental health and wellness support, we strengthen individuals and families and build resilience. When we support older adults and Holocaust Survivors, we honor both dignity and history. When we help someone regain hope, we restore confidence and long-term stability.

The impact may appear incremental, one appointment, one check-in call, one resource connection at a time. But over 65 years, those moments accumulate into generational change.

This milestone is not simply about longevity. It is about trust. Trust built over decades. Trust that when crisis strikes, someone will answer the call. Trust that services will be delivered with respect. Trust that community care still matters.

As we celebrate 65 years, we are also looking ahead. The needs of our community are evolving, and so must we. Innovation, collaboration, and accessibility will define the next chapter of our work.

The first 65 years built a foundation. The next 65 will focus on strengthening that foundation for future generations.

Community resilience does not happen by accident. It is built through partnership, compassion, and the willingness to show up, every day and every time.

For 65 years, JFSC has shown up. And we remain committed to doing so for decades to come.

Roxanne Droppo is the Executive Director of JFSC