Some rides are to dialysis. Some are to the grocery store. Some are to an MRI or a therapy appointment.
And some are to the nail salon.

One of our JFS Transportation clients is 92 years old, and going to her nail salon is still an important part of her routine. Another rarely goes to a doctor’s appointment without his small dog coming along for the ride.

These are small glimpses into what older adult transportation looks like at JFS and why it matters.

Because independence doesn’t have one destination.

For one person, it means making it to a critical medical appointment. For another, it means having groceries in the refrigerator. For someone else, it is attending an ESL class, volunteering, meeting friends for lunch, or keeping an appointment at a favorite salon.

Thanks to the voters and taxpayers of Washtenaw County and their support of the Washtenaw County Older Adult Millage, JFS is able to provide approximately 1,300–1,500 personalized rides for older adults every month. This community investment helps older adults remain independent, connected, and engaged in the lives they have built.

But we don’t think of them simply as rides. We think about the people inside our vehicles.
Recently, a client needed an MRI at St. Joe’s. Her driver arrived, got her there when she needed to be, and was ready to bring her home when the appointment was finished. Later, she sent us a message:
“It was the best trip ever. I was so grateful… Thank you so much to all who made sure I was there.”

Another client contacted us after JFS picked her up from the emergency room:
“I’m so very, very grateful… There have been wonderful people driving, perfect rides.”

And another wrote:
“I am overwhelmed by JFS’s generosity and your personal dedication.”

We receive messages like these often, and there is usually a common theme: our drivers.

Clients tell us about their kindness, patience, and willingness to help. For someone who rides with JFS regularly, seeing a familiar driver pull up can be reassuring. It is someone they recognize, someone who knows where they’re going, and someone who understands they may need a little more time getting into the vehicle or extra help reaching the door.

Approximately 18–20% of our rides are door-through-door, providing additional assistance when it is needed. We also arrange recurring transportation for dialysis, therapy, Silver Club, senior centers, ESL classes, community lunches, and other regular activities. For an older adult, and often for their family or caregiver, that consistency can mean one less thing to worry about.

That trust extends throughout the community. Healthcare providers, senior centers, social workers, community organizations, and families turn to JFS when transportation becomes a barrier to care, independence, or connection.

As demand continues to grow, our team works every day to make the most of the resources entrusted to us. When we cannot provide a ride at the originally requested time, we work to identify another solution, including coordinating with community transportation partners when possible.
Today, JFS maintains a 98% on-time performance rate and 100% client satisfaction rate. We are proud of those numbers, but even prouder of what they represent: older adults getting where they need and want to go.
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Because sometimes independence looks like getting to an important medical appointment.
And sometimes it looks like freshly painted nails.
At JFS, both matter.

A growing community partnership is helping JFS put more nutritious food on more tables across Washtenaw County.

JFS is grateful to Kroger for a $10,000 investment in Nourish Nutrition Services, strengthening our ability to provide nutritious prepared meals and essential food assistance to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

The investment comes at an exciting moment for Nourish. Our Shalom Kitchen is quickly approaching a major milestone: 50,000 meals prepared and served since production began in 2025. In addition, nearly 17,000 individuals rely on the Nourish Pantry each year for grocery assistance.

But behind every number is a person, a family, an older adult, or a neighbor who deserves reliable access to nutritious food.

“Food security is about more than providing a meal or a bag of groceries. It is about dignity, stability, and making sure our neighbors have one less barrier standing between them and the opportunity to thrive,” said Melissa Westlake, Chief Development and Communications Officer at JFS.
Representatives from Kroger recently visited JFS to present the contribution and learn more about Nourish’s impact firsthand. The gift also represents a growing relationship between our organizations, with JFS and Kroger exploring opportunities for Kroger associates to volunteer and engage directly with Nourish.

“At Kroger, we believe everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food, and we're proud to support organizations like JFS that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors every day,” said Cam Barrett, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for the Kroger Michigan Division. “As Nourish approaches the incredible milestone of 50,000 meals served, it's clear just how vital this work is. We're honored to support a program that provides hope, dignity, and healthy meals to individuals and families across Washtenaw County.”

Partnerships like this make our community stronger. We are incredibly grateful to Kroger for recognizing the growing need for food assistance and choosing to be part of the solution.
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Need food support? Contact our Nourish team at [email protected].

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day
Starting a conversation about suicide can be intimidating, especially when we find ourselves wondering if we’re doing it right. There’s no one-size-fits-all way to talk about suicide but opening that door with the people you care about may allow them to feel ready to talk about it. On the other hand, if you’re struggling, connecting with someone you trust about how you’re feeling is the first step to getting better.
Being Aware of the Signs
Signs that someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts often appear in the way they talk, their actions and behaviors, and their overall mood. Contrary to a lot of depictions, there usually are warning signs – sometimes we just don’t know what they are. 
Many people struggling with suicidal thoughts talk about feeling trapped, hopeless, or burdensome to those they care about. Some will even openly discuss the urge to hurt themselves or not wanting to be alive, only to follow with humor to deflect or insist they weren’t being serious. Behavior and mood changes can be seen through patterns of isolation and withdrawing from loved ones, sleeping too much or too little, increased recklessness (including use or increased use of drugs and alcohol), a loss of interest in things they usually love, or noticeable anxiety and agitation. 
For youth, the expression of warning signs can be unique to their current life experiences. They often express internal struggles through behaviors and physical symptoms, including an increase in somatic symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue that have no medical explanation, especially paired with an increase in irritability or mood swings. Youth struggling with their mental health may also express academic concerns, sometimes paired with a sharp decline in their academic performance. Risk taking behaviors, including self-harm and use of substances, might be a way for them to attempt to address feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. Youth also begin self-isolating and express a loss of interest in activities and pastimes they once enjoyed.
If someone has started to form a plan to end their life, the relief they experience at feeling unstick may appear as them getting “better.” A sudden shift like this followed by things like giving away prized possessions or even saying goodbye should be the cause for immediate concern.
How to Respond
These are the general steps you can take to connect with someone you may be concerned about. It’s imperative that any conversation around suicide is lead with empathy and a calm demeanor so that they don’t feel as though they’re doing something wrong. 

• Ask: Be direct with the words you use, while still reminding them that you're coming from a place of concern. Tell them you’re worried that they’ve not been acting like themselves, and you want them to know they can talk to you; ask them if they’ve been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves.
• Listen: It’s incredibly important to listen without judgement to what the other person might say. While it might be challenging to hear, allowing them the chance to express things may also lead to knowing how to best support them later.
• Respond: While staying calm, acknowledge that their pain is very real and that you care about them. If they reveal that they are feeling suicidal, offer to sit with them while they call a crisis line or go with them to a nearby emergency room. If they aren’t struggling with suicidal thoughts specifically, remind them that you’re willing to listen if things change, and encourage them to find professional counseling soon.
• Follow Up: Make sure to check in on the person within a day or two after this conversation if you’re able. Visiting in person or calling will be better than a text. They may not be fully ready to transition into getting the help from a professional they need, but you can encourage them to not give up and remind them that they aren’t alone while they figure it out.

If you know someone or are struggling yourself with thoughts of suicide and need immediate help, please contact one a 24-hour crisis line such as the ones below or visit the nearest emergency room: 

• Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Crisis Line: 734-544-3050
• UM Health System Psychiatric Emergency Services: 734-936-5900
• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text/Call 988 or Chat (chat.988lifeline.org)

For those not in immediate crisis, Thrive Counseling is a compassionate and holistic resource for individuals and families seeking help to navigate their mental health challenges.
Keep Talking About It
​With suicide prevailing as a leading cause of death across the world, staying silent will only lead to furthering the shame and stigma that prevents people from feeling able to reach out for help. When we only discuss suicide during times of crisis, it increased the gap in knowledge and preparedness that we all need to help those we love who might be hurting.
Shedding light on the impact of losing someone to a completed suicide or your own struggles with it, creating opportunities to educate others, and raising general awareness are real ways to stop the harmful myths and stereotypes that continue to circulate. Everyone can play an active role in preventing suicides and increasing access to mental health care by having more conversations around tough topics like this, safely and responsibly.