This giving center is focused on serving our community's most vulnerable populations, including the frail elderly, children with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities and those who require basic life essentials such as food, urgent care and financial assistance. This giving center also helps fund aid for victims of local and national disasters, such as a hurricane. Those programs include, but are not limited to:
LOCAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Kosher Konnection
In partnership with Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (RRJFS), Kosher Konnection supports a hot kosher meal program for needy seniors (Monday through Friday) which offers both sustenance and socialization for the elderly, many of whom have limited social opportunities. Attendance ranges from 60-90 seniors each day, with about 29 volunteers greeting, serving meals and socializing with participants.
Direct Financial Assistance
Through our partners at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (RRJFS), emergency assistance is provided for those families/individuals experiencing a financial hardship and who are having difficulty paying for their basic needs including mortgage/rent, utility bills, medications, home health aides, and provisions for children. An estimated 2,156 individuals will receive financial assistance through RRJFS in fiscal 2009-2010 -- a projected increase of 431 individuals.
Forster Family Kosher Food Pantry
Since 1996, the FFKFP has delivered non-perishable items as well as a frozen Shabbat dinner, fresh fruits and a challah every other week to families suffering from financial hardship, isolated poor elderly, unemployed adults in need of interim assistance and immigrants in need. For 2009-10, the FFKFP is anticipating delivering to 450 households (which represents 746 individuals). This is a projected increase of 100 homes over last year.
LOCAL VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Director of Community Special Needs
Our Federation's Department of Special Needs Services works with families, agencies, congregations, and schools to obtain and enhance services for children and adults with disabilities. It provides training and resources to assist families and individuals in becoming better advocates.
Donna Klein Jewish Academy Sun Center (Yad b’Yad )
This program addresses the growing number of students whose needs exceed the accommodations available in a regular classroom. Presently 18 students receive one-on-one support from skilled learning specialists.
Hillel Day School - ETGAR Program
Established in 2002 for special needs students seeking a Jewish day school education, this program provides intensive intervention and services for those with severe learning disabilities. The program is limited to 8 full-time and 10 part-time students and is considered essential by all who participate.
Jewish Association for Residential Care Financial Assistance
This program assists families/individuals with limited financial resources to participate in residential and vocational programs offered to adults with developmental disabilities. Nearly 40% of JARC’s residential clients (living at either their group homes or apartments) require this support.
Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center Camp Kavod
Provides a summer camp experience for children with special needs that ensures this vulnerable population is engaged in Jewish life experiences. It also offers respite to parents and caregivers. In 2009, more than 50 campers participated in summer programming, and 32 in the winter/spring camp programs.
Jewish Family Service Helping Elders Age in Place
HEAP provides frail, needy seniors the support of caseworkers who help connect them to services and act as advocates. The primary goal of the program is to help our elders age with dignity and in safety. RRJFS currently serves 487 seniors, a 50% increase over last year.
Jewish Family Service Holocaust Survivors Assistance
Provides life-sustaining support to needy Holocaust survivors in our community including personal care, shopping, meal preparation, transportation to medical appointments and homemaking services. Currently 120 survivor households are receiving assistance through this program through care providers who are particularly sensitive to the hardships these Survivors have endured.
Adolph & Rose Levis Alzheimer & Adult Day Care
Professionally managed by the Volen Center, the day care provides an opportunity for those suffering with a cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer’s or other debilitating disease) to participate in daily activities.
Federation Transportation Services
Provides over 41,000 trips per year to elderly seniors and adults with disabilities transporting them to doctor’s appointments, congregant meal sites, and other trips enabling them to live with dignity, and not in isolation.
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg House
This government-subsidized housing on the Federation grounds is for low income seniors and handicapped individuals meeting the necessary requirements.*
Shirley H. Gould House
This government-subsidized housing on the Federation grounds is for low income seniors and handicapped individuals meeting the necessary requirements.*
* Both the Weinberg and Gould Houses do not receive direct funding from Federation; instead they receive benefits due to their location on Federation's campus.
COUNSELING/VOCATIONAL SERVICES
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (JFS) Individuals/Families in Crisis
Provides professional counseling by an experienced staff of licensed clinical social workers and psychologists for children and adults in need of assistance. This support is achieved through individual, family and group counseling, support groups and crisis intervention including a special program for the chronically mentally ill.
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (JFS) Chaplaincy Program
This program offers pastoral counseling and chaplaincy services to our area hospitals and assisted living facilities. Each month approximately 1,500 individuals benefit from the services provided by a corps of parachaplains and volunteer rabbis.
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (JFS) Volunteer/Neighbor First
The need for affordable in-home care, transportation and access to other local services was highlighted in our recent Senior Services Study. Over 270 volunteers provide transportation, telephone reassurance, home visits and food delivery and support-- contributing 30,000 volunteer hours per year. Expanding on this, the We Care Program actively builds a corps of dedicated volunteers within existing communities furthering a sense of community and enabling our seniors to age with dignity within their homes while receiving necessary support.
Volunteer Resource Center
A clearinghouse for volunteers in our community, this Federation resource works with our local agencies to match volunteers with a program of their choosing.
