Page 16 - Jewish News_July-2020

16 July 2020 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Jewish agencies...continued from page 14
JFCS of the Suncoast “It expedites getting the application to majority have been quite comfortable mental healthcare. We will continue
JFCS, which provides case manage- us. Our clients no longer had to worry with our new virtual reality.” with this, virus or no virus.”
ment/financial assistance and mental about coming to a brick-and-mortar Looking at fundraising and other And, Miller sees benefits to re-
health services for those in need (from building in order to drop off their ap- events, JFCS decided to cancel its mote working. “I think in one sense it
children to seniors), began having in- plication,” Miller said. planned March event, “Happy Hearts is difficult when you are a community-
ternal conversations about the global “We also worked with the Jewish Under the Big Top,” an event that in- based agency like we are. Our personal
pandemic in early March. cluded a huge silent auction. “We are connection with our clients is critical
“By mid-March, we started shift- looking at doing a virtual event in June, to what we do. So, while I don’t see
ing services for the most vulnerable using those same silent auction items,” us ever being totally remote, I do see
– seniors and the homeless – out of Miller explained. us moving toward a model that is more
our building so we could provide op- As for the future? “Our develop- of a blend,” Miller said. “We need to
timal safety for both our clients and ment committee is also looking at a be able to meet our clients when and
our staff,” said Dean Miller, Chair, potential late February event,” said where they need us. If a remote work
JFCS Board of Directors. “By the end Miller, adding that at this point “ev- schedule can give more flexibility
of March, we had pivoted to become a erything is tentative. We are certainly to our team, then that will help both
totally remote human service agency.” hoping that we will be able to hold in- JFCS and our clients. Having our tools
Like most other organizations and person events next year. However, we and resources available 24/7 certainly
agencies, JFCS immediately expanded are also prepared to move forward with opens up new opportunities and allows
its use of technology. our virtual programming should events for more flexibility. We will be able to
“We increased services that we Pen pal letters were delivered to clients make that necessary.” serve our clients better and more com-
provided telephonically, and digitally quarantined in their homes Miller added there were several sil- pletely in the years ahead.”
we jumped into the use of tele-health, Federation to create a conversational ver linings to recent happenings. “One For more information on JFCS and
which is virtual mental healthcare us- checklist to assist people who were silver lining was seeing the nimbleness its services, visit jfcs-cares.org.
ing Zoom and other digital platforms. calling on seniors during the crisis,” and resilience of the JFCS staff. We Next month, we will showcase area
This included our school-based ser- Miller said. “It helps these people were able to shift and pivot very quick- synagogues and their response to the
vices, our senior services and our structure their conversations and as- ly,” he said. “Another positive was the Coronavirus pandemic.
homelessness prevention services,” sists in looking for red flags that might organization’s move to tele-health for
Miller said. “We continued to offer all indicate a person who needs additional
these programs, both individually and support from JFCS,” he explained. NCJW supports
through small groups,” he said. The two organizations (Federation
JFCS also continued to offer Jew- and JFCS) are both involved in the Vol- local organizations
ish Healing, a program sponsored by unteer Corps, which has been “remark-
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- able,” Miller said. The volunteers write
Manatee and overseen by Rabbi Jona- letters to seniors, make phone calls and By Jill Simons, NCJW VP of Communications
than Katz. “In non-COVID times, we run errands for those who are house- he National Council of Jew- Brady Campaign, Children First, Girls
would go into jails, hospitals, senior bound. In addition, JFCS delivered 50 ish Women (NCJW) Sarasota- Inc., Hope Family Services, JFCS of
living facilities and meet with our be- kosher Passover meals (made by Avi- TManatee Section reached out the Suncoast, Planned Parenthood and
reavement support groups,” Miller ex- va), mainly to people who were part of to the community by helping organi- Selah Freedom.
plained. “While some of that work is the JFCS senior program. “They were zations that are struggling to provide The National Council of Jewish
difficult to conduct virtually, because so excited and appreciative,” Miller services because their sources of fund- Women is a grassroots organization
of limits on accessibility, Rabbi Katz said. ing have diminished. In an attempt to of volunteers and advocates. NCJW
has continued to work individually “By and large, our clients have take advantage of the matching funds strives for social justice by improving
with clients using Zoom. He even did a been very adaptable and very under- so that each of the organizations would the quality of life for women, children
community-wide Havdalah service via standing. They appreciate, from their receive an extra $100 from the Giv- and families by safeguarding individu-
the popular digital platform. hearts, the care and outreach we are ing Challenge, a donation of $500 al rights and freedoms. The organiza-
Another transition JFCS made was all providing in these uncertain times,” from NCJW was given to each of the tions receiving these donations support
to begin using DocuSign, a program Miller said. “While for the seniors the following: All Faiths Food Bank, The these initiatives.
that allows clients to complete appli- switch to technology was understand-
cations for financial assistance online. ably difficult, for the most part, the Temple Beth Sholom Summer Food Drive
Help support those in need in the Sarasota community. Temple Beth Sholom is
accepting canned and non-perishable food all summer long. Donations can be
UP TO dropped off Tuesday - Friday in a designated bin outside of the building at 1050
South Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. The food will be distributed to those in need throughout
36 MONTH the community. For more information, contact Nancy Hendricks at 941.955.8121
or info@templebethsholomfl.org.

FINANCING * PLEASE SUPPORT ConneCt

OUR ADVERTISERS with your Jewish Community
*On select products. $1,500 minimum purchase, subject to credit approval. See store for details.

THEY HELP MAKE facebook.com/jfedsrq

LIFETIME THE JEWISH NEWS POSSIBLE

INSTALLATION

GUARANTEE Want to
Receive

Texts

about Jewish

community news,

G. Fried Sarasota | 941-584-8158 event updates
5990 South Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34231
M-F 9:30am-6pm | Sat 9:30am-5pm | Sun Closed and more?

G. Fried Tampa | 813-642-7100 OF THE YEAR
GREEN
SMALL
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
OF THE YEAR
AWARD 2018
231 Brandon Town Center Dr | Brandon, FL 33511 AWARD 2018 Text: JFED
LONGBOAT KEY
LONGBOAT KEY
CHAMBER
CHAMBER
M-F 9:30am-7pm | Sat 9:30am-5pm | Sun 12-4pm
To: 332-22
Your Source For Fine Flooring Since 1930
GFriedFA.com

For virtual events, visit our community calendar at jfedsrq.org/events