Mental Health Awareness Month | Yom Yerushalayim Celebration | Good Deeds Day | Grow a Row

“Writing is a lot of fun. I don’t know that I would say it was 'healing', but it was creative and deliberate. It was like solving a puzzle and putting the pieces together.” —  Gail Glotzer

Gail is involved in Gesher, The Ark’s program for Jewish adults living with mental health challenges. Through daily therapeutic groups, creative arts, activity-based programming, Jewish connection, and individual support, Gesher offers participants a place to build relationships, work toward greater wellness, and feel part of a community.

For Gail, who has been connected to The Ark for many years, that sense of belonging is part of a larger story: the importance of being seen as a whole person, with creativity, humor, history, and something meaningful to contribute.

Last Friday, The Ark’s community room was filled with music, Israeli food, and celebration as clients gathered for a special Yom Yerushalayim Musical Extravaganza. 

The program, a special holiday-themed version of our monthly Shabbat client lunch, honored Yom Yerushalayim, which marks the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967. For clients who may not have the opportunity to travel to Israel, the afternoon offered a chance to experience a small taste of Israel right here at The Ark. 

Guests enjoyed an Israeli-themed lunch, live music from the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, featuring vocalist Cantor Pavel Roytman, and time to celebrate together as a community. Guests were also honored to hear remarks from Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Elad Strohmayer and Rabbi Reuven Brand, Rosh Kollel of the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago. 

Before the event, volunteers helped set up the room and prepare Israeli-themed gift bags for clients to take home. Each bag was filled with special treats and items connected to Israel, thanks in part to the generosity of Sarah’s Tent Kosher Market and an anonymous donor, which provided sweet and savory Israeli snacks. Adina’s Designer Cookies added beautiful Jerusalem-themed cookies, and Ayelet Tours contributed travel-themed items, including hats, luggage tags, and globes, helping clients feel as though they were setting out on a special journey to Israel. 

We are grateful to the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts for its generous sponsorship of this remarkable celebration, and to the many volunteers, partners, and guests who helped bring the spirit of Israel to The Ark. 

This month, The Ark welcomed volunteers from JUF’s TOV Volunteer Network as part of Good Deeds Day, a community-wide day of service rooted in the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. 

At The Ark, volunteers helped prepare items for the pantry shelves by sorting donations, shelving items, and packaging bulk goods into smaller quantities so they would be ready for clients. Their work helped support the day-to-day operations of The Ark’s pantry and ensured that clients can continue accessing groceries with dignity and choice. 

Good Deeds Day is part of JUF TOV’s broader commitment to mobilizing volunteers in service of organizations across Chicagoland. On April 12, more than 850 volunteers participated in over 25 service projects supporting 33 organizations. From serving meals to collecting essential items, volunteers showed what is possible when people come together to care for one another. 

We are grateful to JUF TOV and all of the volunteers who gave their time and energy to support The Ark on Good Deeds Day. 

If you are interested in volunteering at The Ark, we would love to hear from you. Please click the link below to fill out the interest form.

Are you a backyard or community gardener with flowers to spare? Help The Ark bring beauty and warmth to clients by sharing flowers from your garden this season. 

Bouquets of 6 to 8 flowers can be bundled with string or a twist tie, placed in a plastic bag around the stems, and dropped off at our Chicago or Northbrook locations. 

Share your buds and blooms to help brighten someone's day. 

As Shavuot approaches, we wish you and your loved ones a Chag Shavuot Sameach. 

Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah and invites us to reflect on how Torah is lived through our everyday actions. In the Book of Ruth, which is traditionally read on Shavuot, we see how ordinary acts of kindness can become extraordinary when they are offered with sincerity, dignity, and care. Ruth’s devotion to Naomi reminds us that showing up for another person with patience and compassion can carry deep meaning. 

This message is especially connected to the work of The Ark, where practical support is always rooted in dignity and human connection. I look forward to learning with clients through Torah study and exploring the meaning of Shavuot together. 

From all of us at The Ark, we wish you a joyful and meaningful Shavuot. 

A few months ago, we shared the story of Jeremy, a father who turned to The Ark after a job loss left him struggling to keep up with rent, bills, and food for his young daughter. 

Our compassionate team of professionals and volunteers helped him through a difficult transition, and our broad range of personalized guidance and resources helped ease the pressure while he searched for work. Today, Jeremy has found a new job and is continuing to move forward with greater stability for his family. 

Jeremy’s story reflects the experience of many Ark clients who come to us during moments of uncertainty and begin rebuilding one step at a time. Because of widespread community support, clients like Jeremy do not have to face those moments alone. 

The Ark’s 2026 Dinner-Less Dinner was a celebration of how the power of community can Unlock Possibilities for people in our community like Jeremy. Without an in-person event, our community’s generosity directly supports comprehensive case management and vital direct service.

This year, nearly 1,200 supporters have come together to raise more than $2 million to help Unlock Possibilities for those in need in our community. 

For someone working to regain stability, that support can mean having food on the table while searching for work. It can mean access to medical and mental health care when insurance coverage isn’t enough. It can mean staying in your home when eviction is looming. For more than 5,000 Chicagoland Jews, it means hope. 

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this year’s Dinner-Less Dinner. Your generosity is already helping people like Jeremy and thousands of others taking steps forward on their paths to self-reliance. 

Michael Reese Health Trust staff and board members rolled up their sleeves to help sort inventory with their team.  

• Start a fundraiser to support The Ark in celebration of a milestone like a birthday, anniversary, or B’nai Mitzvah. Your dedication will inspire your friends and family to join you in support and amplify your impact. 
  
  
• Schedule an informational tour of for a first-hand understanding of how The Ark addresses the needs of our community.
  
  
• Make a connection between your company or organization and The Ark for an interactive program or service project.
  
  
• Start a Pack the Pantry collection drive. Challenge your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help you collect any one item from our pantry list. 

To express interest or learn more, please fill out our volunteer interest form.

Explore Our Newest Career Opportunities!

Dental Hygienist (Part-Time)

The Dental Hygienist provides essential preventive care in The Ark’s free dental clinic, helping patients maintain their oral and overall health. This role delivers high-quality services, educates patients on effective oral care, and works closely with our dentist and healthcare team to support coordinated, patient-centered care. This is a meaningful opportunity to make a real impact by expanding access to critical dental care within the community.

Every gift to The Ark ensures that those facing hardship find a safety net and lifeline of support.