Bringing Food, Comfort, and Joy to Survivors of Domestic Violence
When sisters Frankie Gottlieb and Wendy Wintrob arrive at Jewish Family Service LA’s domestic violence shelters with bags of groceries and platters of freshly baked cookies, they’re doing much more than delivering food—they’re delivering care, comfort, and a little sweetness to families rebuilding their lives.
Frankie and Wendy volunteer with JFS Hope, JFSLA’s domestic violence program, where they shop weekly for groceries to stock the fridges and pantries at both of JFS Hope’s emergency shelters. In addition to ensuring the residents have fresh, nutritious food, they also bake homemade cookies for the children in shelter. “We love getting the thank you notes the kids write us for the cookies,” Frankie said. “It’s so heartwarming.”
Their connection to JFSLA began through a friend. “My dear friend, Clarie Krinsky, was volunteering at JFS Hope and asked if I would assist her,” Frankie recalled. When Clarie retired from shopping after the pandemic, Wendy—newly retired herself—stepped in. “Frankie asked if I wanted to help,” Wendy said with a smile. “How could I say no?”
Volunteering has long been part of Frankie and Wendy’s lives. Both sisters were active Girl Scout leaders—Frankie for her daughter’s troop and Wendy for her niece’s—and they supported their children through countless school and scouting activities. “We were brought up to give and expect nothing in return,” they said. “So volunteering is just a natural step for us.”
The sisters’ warmth and generosity shine through in small, human moments. Frankie remembers how the children at the shelters loved to help unload the groceries from the car. “They always wanted to show us how big and strong they were and how helpful they could be,” she remembers. She also remembers a time when a young boy came outside to help unload their groceries and asked if they were from Uber Eats. “We both laughed,” she said. “But it really reminded me how meaningful these deliveries are—it’s not just food; it’s showing that someone cares.”
For her dedication, Frankie was honored with a Volunteer Recognition Award from JFSLA in 2023. “I was more than humbled,” Frankie said. “I do this from my heart, not for the recognition.” Frankie’s husband is now a volunteer with JFSLA, serving lunch to seniors at JFSLA’s Valley Storefront Community Resource Center.
“I do this from my heart, not for the recognition,” said Frankie.
Though their volunteer work is simple on the surface—shopping, baking, delivering—it represents something far deeper: community, compassion, and hope. “I volunteer to give back to the community and to pay it forward,” Frankie shared. Wendy added, “I always wanted to volunteer for JFSLA, and this gave me the opportunity.”
Together, the sisters bring not just food, but love and dignity to survivors of domestic violence. “We’re a team,” they said. “And we’re proud to be part of JFS Hope’s work to help families heal.”
