June 25, 2026
Submitted by JVS Careers
On a beautiful summer Friday evening at Bechtold Park, more than 60 members, families, and supporters of the PEEPPS (People Empowering Each other’s Personal and Professional Success) program gathered to celebrate a picnic Shabbat, friendship, and the remarkable growth of a community that began with just three individuals.
PEEPPS, a social and peer-support program developed and operated through JVS Careers’ Disabilities Program, was created to help individuals with differing abilities build meaningful relationships, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging…all factors that contribute to employment success. What started as a small gathering of three participants has grown into a thriving community of approximately 26 individual members.
The annual Shabbat Dinner has become one of the group’s most anticipated events, and this year’s gathering demonstrated just how important the program has become, not only to participants, but to their families as well.
Over time, families have requested more opportunities to participate in PEEPPS activities. Many of the few, non-Jewish family members have also expressed a desire to be involved in Jewish experiences, including Shabbat celebrations, because they have witnessed firsthand the joy and sense of community the program provides.
The evening began under sunny skies at the Bechtold Park shelter. PEEPPS participant Rachel led the group in the traditional blessings over the Shabbat candles, wine, and challah, creating a meaningful and welcoming start to the celebration.
Following the blessings, volunteer parent grill masters Dan and Mike prepared hamburgers and hot dogs while PEEPPS families contributed a wide variety of dishes to share. Throughout the evening, participants enjoyed games, a scavenger hunt, water balloon tosses, races, and plenty of laughter.
The event also reflected another hallmark of the program…employment success! Several members arrived later in the evening because they were finishing shifts at their jobs before joining the celebration, a fact that brought smiles to many faces.
During the evening, Disability Services Program Manager Chrissy Perkins recognized members for recent employment achievements, including obtaining new jobs, interviewing, receiving offers, and maintaining successful employment. Participants were celebrated for job interviews and new positions with Electrolux, Old Navy, and Kroger.
The response from the group was immediate and heartfelt. Cheers, applause, and words of encouragement filled the shelter as members celebrated one another’s accomplishments. The genuine pride and support demonstrated by participants was a powerful reminder of the strong bonds that have formed within the PEEPPS community.
Several parents approached JVS Careers Executive Director Kim Slaton during the evening to share how profoundly the program has impacted their loved ones’ lives.
Many spoke about something they once feared might never happen: their loved one having friends, social connections, and an active social life.
“Having friends and opportunities to socialize is something some families never thought would be possible for their loved one,” Slaton said. “To see these relationships develop and watch people genuinely care about one another is extraordinary.”
The importance of these connections was reinforced by recent discussions at a disabilities conference attended by Perkins. A recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing challenge of social isolation and its negative impact on individuals with differing abilities.
PEEPPS is helping address that challenge.
Several members currently thriving in the program had previously struggled in other services, experienced limited success, or even declined participation altogether. Through the support of JVS Careers and the relationships formed within PEEPPS, these individuals have found not only employment success but also a true sense of community and belonging.
Slaton believes the program’s social and peer-to-peer structure plays a significant role in participants’ ability to obtain and maintain employment.
“When people feel connected, valued, and supported, they gain confidence,” she said. “The friendships formed through PEEPPS have had a direct correlation to the success many of our participants are experiencing in the workplace.”
The PEEPPS program is funded entirely through the generosity of Les and Renee Sandler. Their commitment to inclusion and community has made it possible for the program to grow and flourish.
Without their support, the program simply would not exist.
As the evening came to a close, participants lingered, talking with friends, playing games, and enjoying the final moments together.
For Slaton, the sight was deeply moving.
“My heart was full,” she reflected. “Seeing members of our Jewish community experiencing Jewish traditions, celebrating Shabbat together, supporting one another, and building meaningful friendships is something truly special. It was a beautiful reminder of what community can accomplish when everyone is welcomed, celebrated and included.”
For the growing PEEPPS family, the evening was far more than a Shabbat dinner, it was a celebration of friendship, belonging, and the power of community.
