Creating a Caring and Compassionate Community
By: Bambi C. Furtado, LMHC, JFCS Cancer Support & Wellness Program Director
“As someone who has a cancer diagnosis, I like to say that I happen to have cancer, but the cancer is not me. I’m a person who has cancer. I don’t feel sorry for myself or let it get me down.” said Pearl Wald, Cancer survivor and JFCS Cancer support program attendee. “JFCS’ services have given me the opportunity to live my life.”
Ensuring that individuals and families are not alone, JFCS offers more than 75 monthly classes, programs and support groups to those affected by a cancer diagnosis including caregivers & family members, individuals presently undergoing treatment and survivors.
It is stories like Pearl’s, that inspire JFCS to provide these services to all adults on a non-denominational basis by a caring and compassionate staff, many of whom are survivors themselves.
Held at Temple Beth Sholom (now known as the S. Tuttle Campus) JFCS has created a special caring and healing center for these therapeutic programs, services and support groups.
- The Mind Body Center is a room where men and women can practice Tai Chi and QiGong as well as participate in yoga and cancer recovery exercise.
- The Support Room provides a caring atmosphere for individuals attending the various groups to meet. There is also a dedicated privacy area for fittings of ‘Knitted Knockers’, a program designed to provide lightweight prosthetics at no charge to women who have undergone partial/full mastectomies.
- The Expressive Arts Room offers a venue for creative expression including writing, quilting and therapeutic art endeavors.
For more information about programs & to learn how you can support JFCS’ mission to HELP ALL PEOPLE – please contact Bambi Furtado, Cancer Support & Wellness Program Director, bfurtado@jfcs-cares.org or 941.366.2224 x167. The Cancer Support & Wellness Programs are offered at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, on the west side of Building 1. Programs also offered at additional locations in North Sarasota, Bradenton, and Port Charlotte (Spanish).
