Uplifting Lives jfsvancouver.ca | Summer 2021
GEORGE’S STORY: YOUR SUPPORT SUSTAINS A FAMILY Before George came to JFS, he was struggling to make ends meet for his growing family.
Most of all, George and his family received support through the food bank.
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Finding employment was tough with a disability and having recently married, he now had two adolescent kids to provide for. Financially it was a struggle and he knew he needed some help. One of his friends who was volunteering with the Jewish food bank suggested George get in touch with JFS. The difference was immediate. George connected with a case worker and received practical support, including help filling out forms and taxes for housing and disability. He also received some financial help with dental and prescription costs that were not covered by MSP and would have been prohibitive on their own.
Your Legacy Makes a Difference, p2
We no longer had to buy cheap unhealthy food just to not feel hungry. - George
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With growing kids, this is especially important for his family, and particularly for his son, who is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. “If he doesn’t eat regularly, then it’s a real problem,” he notes. In the last year, regular food bank deliveries have been an immense help. Getting to the food bank or grocery store is difficult with a wheelchair, and during the pandemic George couldn’t use the bus
Meal Program Brings Love & Kindness, p3
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Thriving Seniors, p4
GEORGE’S STORY CONT’D SHOUT OUTS
because he requires assistance from the driver. “Without the JFS,” says George, “I don’t think I’d be making it right now.” Family is important to George, and he wants to set a good example. He appreciates the grocery store gift cards he receives through JFS that allow him to pick out special foods for a family Shabbat meal each week. “It makes it a little special,” he says, “it’s nice to have a day to relax and be happy and thankful.” When George reflects on his experience with JFS, he says he feels dignity. “The services are holistic so my basic needs are met and I’m no longer falling behind.” Now that the pandemic restrictions are lifting, George is looking for work and wants to give back. He makes it a priority to work with those who are most vulnerable, and he enjoys volunteering and doing outreach with unhoused people in his community. “You gave me a leg up when I needed it,” says George, “and that’s a marvelous thing, a beautiful thing. I want to give back and help people when I can.”
Thank you to our generous community. • Hebrew Free Loans partnered with JFS to help over 30 JFS clients with additional financial support, such as paying off debt for medical expenses. • Thanks to Kasondra CohenHerrendorf and Herrendorf Foundation, 33 single parent families received special Passover meal deliveries. • The Diamond Foundation supported the first JFS Kitchen Culture series that connected home chefs from different cultures with 11 clients to share, cook and learn.
YOUR LEGACY MAKES A DIFFERENCE Leah Rubin is a proud daughter, loving aunt, HR consultant, and she is also a Legacy donor to Jewish Family Services. Tell us about yourself I’m the child of Holocaust survivors and my first language was Yiddish. My father was clergy at Beth Israel for 47 years. He was the Torah reader and taught three generations of Bar Mitzvah boys. Years after he retired, we could hardly take a step on the streets of Oakridge without one of his students stopping to say ‘hi’. I graduated from UBC and have worked in Human Resources for many years. What motivated you to consider a Legacy gift to Jewish Family Services? For years, my mother was a home support client, and I will never forget nor cease to be grateful for the care she received. She wouldn’t have been able to stay at home without help, and JFS’s services are recognised even outside the Jewish community. Nobody does it better. Even now I’m still friends with one of her wonderful carers, who still works at JFS. How do you imagine your Legacy gift to JFS making a difference? The need is great, and JFS does so much on a shoestring. My contribution will mean the opportunity to in turn help somebody else. Is there anything else you want us to know? JFS does a lot more than people realize. The Jewish community in Vancouver would be in very bad shape if JFS were to go away for any reason, but we would never allow that to happen. To find out more about leaving a Legacy in your will to JFS, please call 604-558-5715. JFS Newsletter | Summer 2021
COOKED WITH CHESED New Meal Program Brings Love and Kindness Thanks to your support, we are continuing a meal delivery program that began during the pandemic, called Cooked with Chesed. For those who have a difficult time preparing meals due to age, recovery from surgery, or other medical reasons, we prepare 5 meals every two weeks. Our new chef, Garry Mallel, has created a menu that is hearty and nutritious. “I just received my food delivered. I cannot thank you enough. It reduces a lot of pressure on me to go and get groceries, be safe, cook on top of everything else. Thank you. Profoundly.” - Meal delivery recipient
Q&A Julian Forman volunteers as a delivery driver for the food bank. Q: Tell us a little about yourself. A: For my day job, I run a solo law firm working with clients in the biotech industry. My wife Jessica and I have been married 18 years and have 3 children together who attend VTT and King David. Q: Why did you start volunteering with JFS? A: Food insecurity is an urgent and unacceptable problem in our city and community. I had been wanting to volunteer for a long time and found the opportunity to work it into my schedule when Covid started. I also became even more concerned about food security and isolation of clients as the pandemic struck. Q: What is one memory from volunteering with JFS that has made an impact on your life?
You Can Help with Fresh Produce We are piloting a new program called Farm-to-Plate, a virtual marketplace that provides people of all income levels with direct access to fresh, local produce through online ordering and weekly pick-ups at The Kitchen, our new food hub location. Every week you can choose from a growing number of farm fresh produce like micro-greens, a variety of root vegetables, and seasonal fruits. Your purchase and donations can also help subsidize farm groceries for someone in need. For more information, please visit jfsvancouver.ca/farm-to-plate or call 604.558.5707.
A: One of our elderly JFS food hub clients has really touched our family. A few months ago, on my first delivery to her home, I deposited the grocery bags at her door. She does not speak English but was motioning for me to come inside. I explained as best I could that I could not enter her home, but she nonetheless insisted on giving me a cookie. I was struck by her generosity given her circumstances. Ever since, she does not let me leave without a treat. Q: What is your favourite part of volunteering? A: A relatively small amount of my time makes such an impact on members of our community who need a helping hand. It is very meaningful to me that I can help.
Deepen Your Impact Consider giving through one of these high-impact opportunities: • Honour someone in your life with a tribute card: Send us your personal message and we’ll post the card to their address.
YOU HELP CLIENTS MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS Through Covid-19, we found new ways to empower older adults and connect them to the community.
Don’t forget to order your Rosh Hashanah cards in time for September 6!
• Give monthly through our Monthly Mitzvah program • Host a fundraiser: Consider turning a bar/bat mitzvah, birthday, or other special occasion into an online fundraiser. We can help. Questions? Contact the Development Department at 604.257.5151 or email development@jfsvancouver.ca
Covid-19 was a severe challenge for older adults who were living alone without access to technology. With your support, we created a new program called ‘Thriving Seniors’ to address this problem. Designed to promote greater equity in wellness through knowledge, connection and support, this program is open to all older adults (55+) and operates on the belief that older adults have a lot of knowledge, skills and wisdom that should be shared with the community. Critical to ‘Thriving Seniors’ is the Tablet Learn and Loan program. We loan out tablets to seniors who don’t have access to the internet or a computer. Tablets have data and are pre-loaded with programs. The participant is matched with a volunteer who supports their learning on how to use Zoom, email, and the internet. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.jfsvancouver.ca/thriving-seniors.
DID YOU KNOW? Feeling anxious about life post-pandemic is normal. Here are 4 ways you can practice self-care as we adjust to easing restrictions: 1. Pace yourself. You don’t need to go back to pre-pandemic routines overnight. Allow yourself to ease back into your routine. 2. Take a break from social media and the news if you find it’s increasing your anxiety. 3. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Vitamin D can have a positive impact on our mental health 4. Talk to someone about how you are feeling, perhaps a friend, family member, or Rabbi. You can also contact JFS to get on our counselling waitlist at www.jfsvancouver.ca/counselling. jfsvancouver.ca | 604.257.5151 | info@jfsvancouver.ca