People Need Help Sometimes

A message from CEO Katie Hanley

I recently celebrated my sixth anniversary as CEO of JFS. Looking back, nothing could have fully prepared me for what I would experience working in this remarkable community. If you pause to think about what we’ve faced together over the last six years, your mind might jump to the global, national, or local challenges that tested us all. And yes, those times were tough. But what truly stands out to me isn’t the hardship—it is this community’s deep compassion and values-driven action.

This community cares. Deeply. And just last week, I witnessed an example that perfectly illustrates what I mean.

A five-year-old student at New England Jewish Academy recently received a book about food pantries as a birthday gift. Moved by the story, she decided to take action. This independent little girl set up outside the Crown Market with a homemade sign that read, “People need help sometimes,” and asked passersby for donations to the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry. She even brought the book with her, using it to explain the reality of local hunger to anyone who stopped.

When she brought the donations to JFS, I watched her empty every bag, hand over every dollar of cash she collected, and carefully place every single can on our pantry shelves.

She is only five years old. Yet, her actions beautifully illustrate the core value of our community: Tikkun Olam—repairing the world. She already understands that people need help sometimes, and more importantly, she knows that she has the power to do something about it.

With gratitude,

Katie

Katie Hanley, LMSW (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford