Village Newsletter Spring Summer 2018 by Beth Joseph

Village by the Shore Spring/Summer 2018

Village Blooms as Spring Arrives Growth for Members and Staff at JFS Spring and summer warm our spirits and allow new opportunities to blossom and grow. The JFS staff is growing and is welcoming staff and changes. With nearly 130 members and growing social programs, Village by the Shore staff are working daily to improve the lives of members in a multitude of ways. Jamie Reichelt started as an intern with JFS in 2015. Jamie worked as a Job Coach and Care Coordinator before her most recent promotion in April 2018 to Care Supervisor within Village by the Shore. In this role, she works one-on-one with members as well as manages the care coordination staff, Social Service Liaisons and the Congregate Housing Services program. Jamie found her passion for assisting older adults when interning at a local hospice agency. Jamie earned her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Stockton University and is currently working toward a LSCW. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and serves on the agency’s Safety Committee. Jamie was named AC Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40 in April 2018 and was awarded the JFS Emerging Professionals Award in 2017 by her coworkers. Valerie Hopkins joins JFS in the role of RSVP Coordinator working with volunteers 55+ years old. She coordinates volunteer activities, tracks hours, communicates between volunteer stations including Gilda’s Club South Jersey, Family Promise Atlantic City and Reading Buddies at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Valerie also is responsible for recruiting and retaining volunteers to ensure all community needs are met. Volunteer activities under her responsibilities include meal/grocery delivery, trash valet, homeless support, reading to children, cancer support and special event assistance. Prior to joining JFS, Valerie worked for the Alzheimer’s Association in Atlantic County. She leads by example as Valerie actively gives her time for the Atlantic County Public Health Department, Eastern Service Workers and CASA. She is the founder of Ladies in Prayer Succeed. She attended Thomas Edison State College and is an active member for the youth at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville. Vanessa Prestis began working at JFS in March 2018 as the Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) & Intake Coordinator. Her responsibilities include overseeing the agency’s Intake department as well as helping individuals navigate benefit eligibility. In this role, Vanessa uses a web-based tool to determine benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, prescription savings, energy assistance and other public assistance. Prior to joining JFS. Vanessa worked with the Atlantic County Women’s Center. She has served as a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Big Brother’s Big Sisters program. Vanessa earned her degree from Stockton University and is currently working toward a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

I Program Spotlight

6 I Special Events

I Volunteer Spotlight

7 I Community Connections

I Boomer Spotlight

8 I Member Spotlight 1

Program Spotlight

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

When Action Meets Compassion; Lives Change

he JFS Village is unique as members are often volunteers and volunteers can be members! Village by the Shore offers a variety of programs that function thanks to dedicated JFS volunteers. Volunteers help to operate Kosher Meals on Wheels, Grocery Delivery, Friendly Visitors, Social Programing and more. From stocking the panty, assisting at special events to meeting members in their homes, volunteers make a huge impact on the program. Kosher Meals on Wheels: Each Thursday morning, volunteers deliver easy to prepare meals to Village members. Meals include soup, fruit, bread, dessert and entree such as roasted chicken, turkey, assorted vegetables. The frozen meals assure that adults receive nourishment and meal variety as well as social interaction with delivery volunteers. The Village is seeking volunteers to deliver in Atlantic City and Hammonton. Friendly Visitors: JFS provides individuals with a visitor who offer companionship. Whether just chatting about family and current events or helping with getting on the computer, or playing board games, Friendly Visitors is an excellent way to get involved while keeping community members engaged. The Village is currently looking for a female volunteer to visit a woman with a slight vision impairment in Ventnor to help with reading bills, going through mail, thread a needle for senior to sew.

Grocery Delivery occurs twice per month where volunteers order and deliver meals for members.

Trash Valet: An easy weekly task, trash valet is ideal for seniors who can’t carry their cans to the curb or residents that are not local on trash day. This activity is perfect for someone looking for a quick way to give back which doesn’t involve client interaction. Volunteers have been high school students needing community service hours or neighbors looking to help neighbors. Some of our members are not able to walk, maneuver heavy objects, or make it out to the street, this is where volunteers help by bringing their trash to the curb then returning it at the end of the day. Trash valet is available in the Downbeach area only.

Phone Check-In: If you want to help but time is limited, Phone Check-ins are a great way to engage members from the comfort of your own home. Once a week volunteers call members to chat about the week or just simply listen and engage in an active conversation.

Social Programing: Volunteers offer social programming to keep our members engaged. Needlework, writing, and seasonal activities are some workshops our volunteers have led. Each month, Village members receive a monthly list of social programming with dozens of activities. The Village is currently looking for art or gardening volunteers to instruct a one-time or recurring class. In Home Grocery Shopping & Delivery: Twice a month, Village members are able to do their grocery shopping from the comfort of their living room and have their groceries delivered right to their front door by JFS volunteers. JFS volunteers call Village members to assist them with placing their grocery orders through the “ShopRite from Home” program and then deliver the groceries to the member’s home (and help put them away) the following day. Another side benefit is the opportunity for additional socialization between Village members and their volunteer. Whether you are a community member who could benefit from services or someone looking for meaningful ways to give back, please contact Village by the Shore Membership Director, Tina

Volunteer, Zelda solo pack items each Thursday to deliver through Kosher Meals On Wheels.

Volunteer Spotlight

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

ileen and Jerry Sackin are no strangers to the volunteer world. In fact, between them, they have volunteered for more than eight different organizations throughout NJ, including JFS. From stocking the food pantry to stitching quilts to coaching, this Egg Harbor Township couple gives their time generously to make a difference in the lives of so many community members. Eileen and Jerry started volunteering at JFS in 2015 when their friends Douglas and Barbara Groff asked them to come help sort and stock the food pantry one day. Eileen and Jerry enjoyed the opportunity and began joining the Groff’s monthly in the pantry. The JFS pantry distributes 12,000 pounds of food to more than 2,500 individuals & families annually. Their work with JFS is vast. The couple volunteers more than 100 hours per year for various JFS initiatives from food to diapers to helping at special events. Jerry’s “let’s go” personality is ideal when it comes to the monthly food delivery. He is the first to begin unloading the palates of non-perishables, unloading the boxes and organizing by item. He never shies away from hard work and certainly brings spirit and fun to the tasks. In addition to his ongoing pantry help, both Jerry and Eileen have given their time as volunteers for the annual golf tournament. Last year, Jerry oversaw the hole in one contest as golfers tried for a chance to win a Mercedes. Eileen perfectly complements her husband with a take charge attitude to getting things done. She ensures everything is running efficiently each month. Eileen has taken on the responsibility of the agency’s diaper and wipe distribution area. She has mastered keeping the diaper pantry organized and clean. She separates diapers by size making sure JFS staff can easily access the products when they have someone in need. Parents and caregivers can receive up to 75 diapers and wipes per month. Eileen knows the responsibilities of raising children and is proud to play a small role in making the caregiver’s lives a little easier through her work in the pantry. Whether they are working within the pantry or helping stuff gift bags for an upcoming event, Eileen & Jerry are always reliable and eager to

help, they also try to recruit others to volunteer at JFS.

family,” explained Jerry. When asked what they like most about volunteering, particularly here at JFS, they both endearingly smiled. “My work at JFS is tangible, I see case managers or social workers come back here [food pantry] and take product off the shelf, and I know that is going to someone who needs it,” said Jerry Eileen added, “I love knowing that my work is going somewhere to help others and that my work is needed.”

Aside from Jewish Family Service, Eileen donates her time to other charities such as “South Jersey Quilts of Valor” for veterans, “South Shore Stitchers” where volunteers make quilts for pediatric patients and “Ryan’s Cases for Smiles Organization” which she sews pillow cases for children in the hospital. In addition, she volunteers for the Special Olympics for Young Athletes in EHT. Prior to moving to Egg Harbor Township, Eileen used to donate her time to Head Start in Morris County and Jerry volunteered as a track coach for a Morris County Sports and Recreational program for children with specials needs. The Sackins’ expressed that “volunteerism” is a huge part of their lives and it has been passed down from generation to generation. They instill the importance of volunteerism to their kids and grandchildren. It was important to them to make sure their kids and grandchildren volunteered from early on. In fact, when their grandkids were only 4 and 6 years old, they brought them to help out at the food pantry during their visit to NJ from their home in Cincinnati. “It is very important that the concept of “giving back” and “doing good for others” stays in the

The Sackins and their entire family are amazing role models for our future generation and are a great reminder as to why volunteerism is so important in all communities. For their vast efforts, Eileen and Jerry Sackin have been named Volunteers of the Year by Jewish Family Service and will be recognized during the agency’s Annual Meeting in June. If you would like to give back through volunteerism, contact Valerie Hopkins, RSVP Coordinator at 609-822-1108 x 211 or vhopkins@jfsatlantic.org.

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Opportunities for Volunteer 55+ in Atlantic & Salem Counties You choice the amount of time to give, how and where to help! Whether arts & crafts, cancer support, fundraising event help, food pantry aid, friendly visitors, food collections, meal delivery, and homeless support, volunteers help with JFS, Gilda’s Club, Family Promise and Reading Buddies.

To get involved, contact 609-822-1108 x 211 or vhopkins@jfsaltantic.org

RSVP is funded through

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Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

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The mission of Boomers Plus is to provide interesting and entertaining articles to connect businesses to their target market for individuals ages 50 and older in Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean Counties. We strive to offer businesses the opportunity to engage with this ever-enlarging group of consumers who have tremendous purchasing power.

Boomer Spotlight

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

Technology of Aging: Buck Rodgers is NOW!

ver the past 25 years technology has changed the way we view the world and significantly impacted the way we live our lives. It has challenged the Greatest Generation to keep up with the seismic shifts in their understanding of everyday life moving from party line phones to smart phones and from doctors who make house calls to Teledoc who examine you via a skype from the comfort of their home.

offer drone delivery within 30 minutes of ordering throughout the United States. Additionally, technology has weaved into every aspect of daily life. Monitoring devices lock and unlock doors, turn heat, cooling, lights, ovens, burglar alarms on and off through our computers and smart phones. People now monitor blood pressure and daily exercise through a smart watch. This is a vast evolution from the needle scale and doctor visit to track physical well-being. These developments are a peak into the changes to come. What if your entire house “knew” via sensors to turn on the lights as you walk around? In the near future, your stove could be preprogramed to know when something heating has arrived at the appropriate temperature and turning itself off before burning or worse yet a fire ensues. For Boomers, vitals being monitored in real time, medications reminders a fall being reported to emergency responders are the progressing benefits of technical advances.

Boomers can anticipate continued positive technology changes that make aging in place more feasible for a longer period of time. One of the biggest changes regards the conversation that both senior parents and adult children dread, the “car keys talk”. Seniors giving up their driving privileges will become a thing of the past. With driverless cars taking to the roads and becoming the norm, the worry of a senior being able to physically and mentally operate a car becomes obsolete. Seniors will no longer have to give up their driving privileges (and their feeling of independence) if the car drives itself. Imagine that safety worry disappearing for both parents and adult children.

The positive effects of the coming technology will be that many seniors will be able to choose to age at home for longer periods of time. There will be much less worry about health and safety for family and caregivers. As frustrating as technology can be for Boomers at times, the benefits are vast and rapidly growing.

Shopping has already changed for the Boomers and will continue to evolve. Where once shoppers would need to travel from store to store purchasing their essentials, now everything from food and clothing to furniture can now be bought on line and delivered to your front door. Today, we can place an online order and receive the items within days. In the near future, Amazon will

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609.788.8236 www.rahnjshore.com

Special Events

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

Coffee Klatch: Current Events Beyond the Headlines Join Tina Serota, Village by the Shore Membership Director and Josh Cutler, JCC Program Director for this lively monthly discussion that features insightful conversation about politics,

Tel 609-380-4302 Fax 609-380-4305 Email: Journeyhospice@aol.com

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for Village by the Shore members.

Community Connections

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

Village by the Shore members meet weekly to crochet beautiful designs, socialize, and share ideas.

Holocaust survivors & community members enjoy the monthly socialization luncheon at JFS.

Tai Chi Chaun is one of many activities Village by the Shore offers through its partnership with JCC each month.

Bunting Family Pharmacy

Member Spotlight

Strength in Community

jfsatlantic.org

Saul Levy “Be happy with what you’ve got!” are words of advice for all, according to Saul Levy.

Saul Married the Apple of His Eye, Carol, in 1994 After Meeting at a Friend’s Birthday Party.

A Village by the Shore member, Saul enjoys a visit with JFS staff.

man who worked at his family’s fruit store beginning at the age of 10, served in the Korean War, married his sweetheart and enjoyed a long career as a hairdresser, Saul reminisces about a life that continues to be well lived.

Saul and his wife, Carol, married in 1954 and lived a happy life in Philadelphia with their two daughters. The couple retired to Margate in 1993. Saul took advantage of the quieter and slower pace of life at the shore and developed his hobbies of shooting pool and painting. He surprised himself when he won first prize in a painting competition at Ventnor Arts – a talent passed onto his daughter and granddaughter. A few years ago, Carol passed away, leaving Saul lonely. As he aged, Saul began looking for ways to remain independent and continue living his life his way. He sought solace in volunteering at Shore Medical Center where he escorts visitors to rooms and patients to tests within the hospital. Despite the connection through the hospital, Saul needed additional socialization and supports. His doctor connected him to JFS Village by the Shore. “They make it possible for me to stay at home,” explains Saul. “They [Village staff and volunteers] are very nice! They make you feel at home. Their job is not easy.” The Bella Savell Transportation Program keeps Saul active and engaged in the community. This door-to-door services allows him to continue his socialization through volunteering at the hospital. Once a month, Saul uses a Village ride to attend a lunch with 18-20 volunteers that he works with at the hospital. He enjoys the rhythm of hospital work, talking and interacting with people. A quiet guy, Saul occasionally attends Village’s Coffee Klatch. This interactive monthly discussion allows him to go out, meet new people and discuss (or just listen) to conversations about current events, politics, technology and family life. A big part of Saul’s life, is reliving his experiences with Village team members. Saul speaks passionately about how he began using his hairdressing skills to serve his community as a volunteer. He cut the hair of children with downs syndrome and other neurological disorders free of charge. Some of the families that he’s helped over the years, still occasionally show their gratitude for his kindness by bringing him a home cooked meal. Saul recently hired an in-home health aide from Village vetted Service Partner, Right at Home, at the discounted rate for Village members and receives grocery delivery twice per month. He epitomizes the Village ideal of volunteering within his community while receiving services that keep him living happily in his home. Saul hopes to do this for years to come.

Village by the Shore 609.822.1109 villagejfs@jfsatlantic.org 607 North Jerome Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402 jfsvillagebytheshore.org

JFS is an affiliate agency of the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties and a partner agency with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in Atlantic County.