The Hebrew Ladies Charity Society (HLCS) was established in 1902 by nine local Jewish women who banded together to help address the unmet needs of the community.  In 1925, the Ladies Hebrew Charity Society and the Council of Jewish Women merged to avoid duplicating efforts. In 1946, they established the Jewish Family Welfare
Bureau, which was renamed and incorporated in 1948 as Jewish Family Service of Tidewater (JFS).

JFS honors and remembers the ladies who helped settle Tidewater and has a fund established to provide food and financial assistance to local Jewish people in need.

Contributions in honor of the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society can be made to jfshamptonroads.org.