When one family gains the edge

A ‘Living on the Edge’ update

Seniors at the Kosher Café enjoyed a festive meal and Hanukkah celebration in December. Jboost.org is currently raising funds to offer meal vouchers to seniors. /Photo| Fran OstendorfEditor’s note: Some names have been changed for confidentiality.

Miriam, a 45-year-old woman from Warwick with a preteen son was suddenly widowed and lost her sole source of income.  When her neighbor Shirley came to pay a Shiva call, she could see that Miriam needed more than her sympathies and a homemade kugel. Shirley could hear the desperation in Miriam’s voice and encouraged her to call the community concierge at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Just months earlier, Shirley – a frequent patron of the Senior Café at the Dwares JCC – had called Wendy Joering, the community concierge, seeking assistance. Shirley, 69, spent eight years providing care for her ailing parents. After her mother died, last summer, she was at a financial breaking point.

“You can be assured that Wendy will respond immediately,” Shirley explained to Miriam, “and everything will be confidential.”

The following day, Miriam called and poured out her heart to Joering, whose role as community concierge has expanded. Once thought to be the go-to-place for obtaining information such as the best bagels in Rhode Island, or a resource to find Hebrew tutors, the concierge’s role has developed into a more critical function since the Living on the Edge initiative.

In Miriam’s case, that humble phone call to Joering triggered the coordinated efforts of the Jewish Alliance, Jewish Family Service (JFS), and The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry through Jewish Seniors Agency (JSA).

Miriam had been out of the workforce since her son Adam was born, so she needed some vocational guidance. This included help updating her resume, some computer training, as well as navigating state unemployment services. Ted, a former school teacher, volunteered to help Adam with homework, food from the Kosher food pantry was delivered to their home and JFS set up grief counseling for the family. When Joering found out that Adam was wearing a winter coat that was too small, she was able to offer Miriam a gift card to Burlington Coat Factory that was made available through the generosity of crowdfunding via Jboost.org.

“The road ahead will be difficult, and Miriam is still in pain,” said Joering. “But she and her son are cared for, supported by a network of services, and they are in the hearts and on the minds of a caring community.” 

Calls from individuals like Shirley and Miriam have become commonplace for Joering, and the collaboration with partner agencies has become much more routine. During the past year, the Alliance, its community partners, rabbis and lay leaders have fashioned a response to the “Living on the Edge” study that identified the prevalence of social and financial insecurity in the Jewish community of greater R.I.

The programs, designed to help those affected by the economic downturn, include a broad array of coordinated services inspired by Jewish values. The goal of these endeavors is to provide a safety net, promote self-sufficiency and increase access to Jewish life. To date, the Living on the Edge Steering Committee, chaired by Alan Hassenfeld and Susan Leach DeBlasio, has authorized $47,500 for emergency assistance, and dozens of individuals have already benefited.

Here is an update on the initiatives created as a result of this incredibly impactful endeavor.

Jboost.org

Jboost.org, the community’s crowdfunding platform, is designed to support local projects and better the lives of the economically vulnerable in the community. The current project, in partnership with JFS, encourages seniors to experience the warmth of a  kosher meal site. Senior Café wants to promote its inclusive environment by offering first-time attendees a $3 voucher for a free kosher meal, good at either of its two convenient locations – the Dwares JCC in Providence or at Temple Am David in Warwick. The crowdfunding goal through Jboost.org is $300, which will allow 100 seniors to enjoy a healthy meal, physical activity and time with friends.

“Another recent Jboost project called ‘Keep a Child Warm’ collected funds to help outfit children for winter,” said Simon Lichter, planning associate for the Living on the Edge initiative. “It was brought to our attention that many children in our community did not have warm winter coats, gloves, hats or scarves. With the help of the Jewish community, we identified dozens of children who would benefit from this project.”

The power of crowdfunding raised nearly $1,500 and was a source of warmth for children in the community. Additionally, an anonymous donor matched each donation made to the ‘Keep a Child Warm’ Jboost project with a pair of winter gloves and a hat.

By working with rabbis, Kesher social workers and school directors, the Alliance distributed 30 Burlington Coat Factory gift cards valued at $50 each. The response from the families was often emotional, as was the case with Miriam and her son Adam. 

“We are asking that you – our Jewish community – share Jboost.org with your network of family and friends on Facebook and other social media platforms to help us spread the word,” said David Leach, chair of the Jboost subcommittee. “Be sure to check back regularly as new projects are posted to Jboost.org that will resonate with a variety of people.”

The best part? A gift in any amount helps! Whether it’s $1, $5 or $18 – every gift counts, and making a donation in someone’s memory or honor is encouraged.

AccessJewishRI.org

The Alliance, JFS,  JSA and local synagogues have been successful in linking people with resources by consistently and creatively responding to the community’s changing needs.  However, in recent years economic instability has risen dramatically in the local community.

AccessJewishRI.org, a soon-to-be launched Information & Referral (I&R) website, will bring people and services together and will include a personalized, confidential phone line. It will be a user-friendly single point of contact to access the multitude of services, activities and resources provided by community, social, health and government organizations in greater Rhode Island.

The creation of an I&R website is the result of collaborations that depend on the work of dozens of community-based organizations. It will be a resource for many at-risk individuals, such as the economically vulnerable, non-English speakers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

“AccessJewishRI.org will be a simple and engaging way to find information most relevant to one’s own needs and interests,” said Joering, community concierge. “Whether for elder-care issues, mental health assistance, foreclosure, parenting resources or Jewish life, AccessJewishRI.org will help individuals access what they need, when they need it.”

“By offering resources and compassion, we can remove the stigma often associated with economic vulnerability,” added Dick Silverman, committee chair of AccessJewishRI.

Projected launch for the website is scheduled for the spring of 2015.

Vocational Assistance

and Job Brokering

A staggering number of households in greater Rhode Island’s Jewish community are economically vulnerable due to under- or unemployment. The economic stability of these households can change month to month, and even modest, unexpected expenses or loss of hours at work can catapult a family earning a median income into hardship resulting in the need for external and immediate assistance.

“There is a clear need for career and job search services for both the under- and unemployed,” said Susan Bazar, chair of the Vocational Assistance subcommittee.

“It is our goal to assist in resume building, interview skills, networking and even wardrobe consultation,” said Jennifer Zwirn, coordinator of vocational services. “Let’s face it – the right outfit inspires confidence.”

Influenced by existing communal organizations, including netWorkRI and Jewish Vocational Services from Boston, Bazar and Zwirn hope to see competent individuals like Miriam secure quality jobs. The intent is to foster self-sufficiency, professional confidence and safety measures against further economic insecurity.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Rhode Island has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, and the state has taken longer to rebound from the recession. Therefore, the need for continued job training, networking and one-on-one support is critical. “We’ve already connected several people to potential employers through networking within the Jewish community,” said Zwirn. “One client has already secured a job.”

Once launched, individuals seeking employment assistance will be able to use AccessJewishRI.org as a resource, or they may call the Alliance directly.

Volunteerism

Why do people get involved as volunteers in an organization? Every person has his or her own motivating force. Most people volunteer because of their passion for a cause, because they have a strong level of commitment or because they have something valuable to offer. Whatever the reason, the fact of the matter remains: Volunteerism is crucial to our success as a community.

“There is power in volunteering – in lending a hand and sharing a skill,” said Ted, who meets with Miriam’s son Adam once a week at the local library. “Volunteerism doesn’t have to be time-consuming or overwhelming, but it is critical.”

The time and tasks vary, but there is something for everyone. Robyn Goldstein, Living on the Edge navigator and Jewish volunteer corps coordinator, explained, “It could be as simple as or as impactful as you want it to be. Want to proof someone’s resume from home twice a month or transport Kosher meals to isolated seniors? There are opportunities for teens, stay-at-home-moms, retirees and everyone in between. We recognize everyone has something unique to give in the way of volunteerism. We encourage people to ask how they can help; we will match volunteer opportunities that align with your time and talents.”

One volunteer, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed it in this way: “Volunteering allowed me to connect with people in the community. This has become really enjoyable for me, and I feel like I am helping the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Teaching the Torah

When the “Living on the Edge” study was released in 2013, greater Rhode Island rabbis reported many of their congregants were facing financial challenges: 78 percent struggled to pay bills, were under- or unemployed, had a lack of adequate food, and/or had no access to healthcare, while 18 percent experienced housing instability or homelessness.

“There is urgent need in our community,” said Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Congregation Beth Sholom. “It is a Torah imperative for us to respond swiftly and generously.”

“There is nothing Jewish about poverty – but our response can be Jewish,” said Susan Leach DeBlasio, co-chair of the Living on the Edge initiative.

Teaching the Torah of giving and receiving help will create a new framework for teaching Jewish traditions and values. This might take the form of rabbinic messages from the pulpit, one-on-one pastoral care or educational units in supplementary and day schools. The message to be conveyed is that reaching out and caring for others is a basic tenant of Judaism and is an integral and ongoing part of Jewish life. Just as important, the receipt of help does not make one a less valued or less welcome member of the community.

There need not be a stigma about asking for and receiving help. During one of Adam’s tutoring sessions, he told Ted that someday he wanted to volunteer and give back to the Jewish community because they’ve given him and his mom so much.

That’s not living on the edge, that’s gaining the edge.

Need Assistance? Contact Wendy Joering, community concierge, at 401-421-4111, ext. 169 or wjoering@jewishallianceri.org.

KARA MARZIALI is the director of communications for the Jewish Alliance and is actively involved with AccessJewishRI.org.