Emergency gifts help community

The Emergency Relief and Recovery Campaign, led by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, is off to a fast start, raising over $160,000 in its first three weeks.  More than 90 gifts have come in to support the efforts to provide for immediate needs such as food and long-term needs such as assistance with utilities, rent and other emerging needs.  

A team of Alliance staff has been working with Rhode Island agencies, synagogues and day schools to determine community needs and help inform the allocation of funds raised from the emergency campaign. First disbursements have been made to the community, primarily to Jewish Collaborative Services (JCS) to support gift cards for food for those in need. 

The campaign, co-chaired by Rich Glucksman and Amanda Isenberg, has a goal of $250,000.  We are already hearing about the impact of the funds raised – from food assistance for a family of seven where the primary breadwinner was laid off to an elderly woman who needed Meals on Wheels and frequent check-ins from the JCS and Alliance staff.

A gift of any amount will help meet goal and continue this important work.  To make a donation, go to https://www.jewishallianceri.org/emergency-fund/

SARA MASRI is chief development officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.