Jewish Adults 55+

Friendship Circle is a Program designed for Jewish older adults in Sonoma County.  It was founded almost thirty years ago and is a year round program of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County.  We offer cultural, recreational, educational, and social programming for healthy elders and outreach to frail and more isolated seniors in retirement communities. The Friendship Circle program provides a twice monthly Hot Lunch and Learn Program, Senior Excursions to theatres and museums, clubs and classes, and special holiday events throughout the year.

Program Success

“Friendship Circle is the focus of my Jewish life and my social life. Many thanks! Everyone is so warm and friendly.”

We are always interested in new members and participants. We are especially eager to contact newcomers to our community, and those who may feel isolated or lonely.

We are expanding our programs throughout the county, and welcome your program suggestions, and we are pleased by the positive feedback we get from our Friendship Circle participants. Let us hear from you!

Please don’t let a lack of transportation be an obstacle to participation.

Thanks to a special transportation grant from the Jewish Community Federation, we are able to offer free rides to our events on the JFCS van within Santa Rosa to those who can no longer drive. If you live outside of Santa Rosa, we can arrange carpools from Petaluma, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Windsor/Healdsburg to our events.

Please call me if you are aware of seniors who would enjoy our luncheons, excursions, and special events. 

For more information about Friendship Circle, please contact:

Program Director, Jalena Mays, jalenam@jccsoco.org or (707) 528-1476

Program Participation

Become a Friendship Circle Member!

Members enjoy discounts on ALL programs.

Lunch and Learn: vegetarian lunch, entertainment, and education.

Excursions: Day trips and overnight trips.

Annual Membership Tea: You will be our special guest, it’s our gift to you. This greatly anticipated yearly event is lots of fun with delicious homemade goodies, door prizes, and entertainment.

Clubs and Classes

Holiday Outreach

Mother’s Day Luncheon

Submit this form to join:

COMMERCE FORM COMING SOON

Reservations

Thank you for your interest in attending a Friendship Circle event. Please complete and submit the form below. Jalena Mays or Carol King will respond within 48 hours to your reservation request.

Friendship Circle Advisory Committee

Thank you for your guidance, support, and the many volunteer hours you donate to make our programs so successful!

Gerri Fabian, Lois Abramson, Elizabeth Hagen, Carol Jarvis, Victoria Kalish, Ray Kaplan, Myrna Childs, Joy Lovinger, Edythe Smith, Edee Sternfield-Squires, Ruth Turner, Shelley Bauer, Binese Goldberg, and Shirley Lieberman.

Friendship Circle Hanukkah Party