History of Jewish Family Services of WNC
The Beginning
1988 Alison Gilreath organizes the Jewish Council on Aging (JCOA) at the Asheville Jewish Community Center (JCC) to address a growing need for adult services.
1999 Alison becomes the Director of JCOA as an employee of the Asheville Jewish Community Center (JCC). The first services were holiday kosher meal deliveries and the Elder Day Club Group Respite program.
2006 Jewish Council on Aging (JCOA) programs expand to provide resources for families and individuals with social, family, emotional, or personal issues.
2007 Jewish Council on Aging changes to Jewish Family Services (JFS) and the program expands to serve people of all faiths in need of emergency assistance.
JFS Expands Services and Community Reach
2011 JFS becomes its own 501(c)(3) agency.
2012 JFS takes over staff salaries from the JCC and becomes the WNC Local Administrator for the Jewish Educational Loan Fund based in Atlanta, administering thousands of dollars of interest-free college loans to Jewish students from the WNC region.
2013 JFS moves to its own space for its growing programs, client confidentiality, and an expanded food pantry.
2014 JFS establishes Mental Health Counseling Services.
2017 A Henderson County location is added for Elder Club.
2018 Volunteer clergy provide support for end-of-life, illness, and other crisis situations.
June 2019 Alison retires, and Jessica Whitehill becomes Executive Director. Meal deliveries are expanded to adjacent counties.
JFS During the Covid-19 Pandemic
March 2020 JFS closes its offices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinical counseling program is converted to a tele-health platform and continues to grow.
December 2020 JFS moves its offices to a larger space in the former hospital.
May 2021 Cindy Smith becomes Executive Director.
January 2022 The position of clinical director is established to supervise the clinical
counselors.
JFS Expands Its Support for Individuals, Families, and Seniors in WNC
November 2022 Michael Barnett becomes Executive Director, and JFS expands.
February 2023 JFS starts clinical group therapies.
March 2023 JFS expands and provides clinical counseling at the Council on Aging for Henderson County
August 2024 JFS presents the first annual Dee Weiner L’Dor V’Dor award, to honor Dee for her sustained support to the agency. The award is presented to Susan and David Leader.
In September 2024 JFS provides support to over 2,000 individuals/families in the wake of Hurricane Helene, providing food, water, diapers, formula, emergency supplies, and microgrants.
April 2025 The agency introduces its Senior Care Management Program, which provides personalized, in-home support to aging adults and their families
Executive Directors:
Allison Gilreath 1988-2019
Jessica Whitehall 2019-2021
Cindy Smith 2021-2022
Michael Barnett 2022-present