Here we are and here we soar ... right into 2021! |
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More than finding a job, more than growing older, more than making ends meet … JCS is about achieving what you never thought possible. |
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Our Mental Health is Part of the Public Health Emergency
By Jacki Post Ashkin, LCSW-C
As the new year began, we learned of the suicide death of Tommy Raskin, the 25-year-old son of Congressman Jamie Raskin and his wife, Sarah. The Raskin family’s powerful public statement about the death of their precious son, including their open acknowledgement of his struggles with depression, reminds us that those painful thoughts and feelings of hopelessness can become overwhelming and lead to heartbreaking tragedy. So, what can we do that might help prevent someone we care about from ending their life?
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Rental and Mortgage Assistance for Baltimore City Residents
Have you lost income due to illness, death of a family member, furlough, and/or lay-off caused by COVID-19?
JCS is offering 1-month rental or mortgage assistance to individuals and families who (1) rent or own their home in Baltimore City, (2) have current earnings below 300% of the poverty limit, and (3) have an ID (or change of address card) that matches the name on their current lease or mortgage statement.
Call the JCS intake line at 410-466-9200 and ask for an assessment for rental or mortgage assistance.
Please ensure you have (1) personal identification, (2) lease or mortgage statement, (3) one month of paystubs, an unemployment statement, or a Social Security Award letter, (4) proof of loss of income due to COVID-19 from employer or doctor.
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A New Beginning and a New Way to Connect
By Rozi Rice
I could never have anticipated that the events of Monday, March 16, 2020 – a day that began like any other – would have the impact on my life that it did. In an early morning email, my colleagues and I learned that our building would be closing indefinitely and we would begin providing our services remotely. As a volunteer coordinator, I scrambled to notify each person giving and receiving services.
One of the most important programs that I work on is Connections, which offers social programs for adults with disabilities who live in the nine JCS group homes. In an instant, all activities, jobs, and programs were cancelled as our residents became quarantined to their homes for their own protection. Now, what?
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Scholarships for Eligible Jewish Students
Apply by April 1
Are you a Jewish high school senior (class of 2021) living in the Baltimore metro area and planning to attend an accredited U.S. college or university?
Are you from a single parent home? OR Do you have a diagnosed learning disability?
If so, you may be eligible for Jewish Community Services’ scholarships!
Recipients are chosen based upon several criteria, including academic performance, financial need, community and school involvement, and letters of recommendation.
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120 Children Have Brighter Smiles this Year - Thanks to YOU
For many years now, JCS has held a winter holiday toy drive to offer support to families that struggle to afford gifts. JCS staff offices are filled to the brim with books, hats, puzzles, sports equipment, and more just waiting to be put in the hands of children around the Baltimore metro area.
For Deborah Hamburger, a JCS Volunteer Coordinator, this is the happiest time of year. “Coordinating the Toy Drive is, by far, the most rewarding part of my job. Every year, beginning in October, I start the process: contacting past donors, publicizing the event with our marketing department, pestering staff to submit client families’ wish lists, and cleaning out my office to make room for the onslaught.”
This year, however, due to COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions, Deborah and her team had to pivot and innovate. “We decided to solicit monetary donations from the community so that we could purchase and distribute e-gift cards to parents receiving assistance from JCS, which allowed them to buy presents for their children. Because we had never run a campaign like this, we were unsure what the results would be. Imagine our surprise and delight when we procured enough funds so that 120 children had gifts to unwrap!”
Not only did YOU – our toy drive champions – step up with generous donations to make this happen, but companies like Barnes & Noble also played an important role by donating books. So, thank you.
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What's Coming Up?
Free Programs Open to the Public via Zoom
AGING & CAREGIVING
Jan 14, Jan 28; 1:30 – 2:30 pm
If you have macular degeneration or other visual impairments, join us for conversation, support, and the latest information on resources and assistive technology.
Jan 18, Feb 1, Feb 15; 10:00 – 11:00 am
If you are caring for someone with a Dementia related disorder, join us for conversation, resources, and education.
Jan 20, Feb 17; 3:00 – 4:00 pm
If you are a caregiver who can’t be with your loved one in person because of the pandemic, join us to gain strategies for living with the stress and uncertainty of these difficult times; maintaining meaningful contact with your loved one; and advocating for your loved one with facilities staff, medical providers, and more.
Feb 9; 2:00 – 3:00 pm
If you or someone you love or are caring for has Parkinson’s, join us to receive education and support for coping with the physical, emotional, and social impact of the disease.
EMOTIONAL & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Jan 21, Feb 18; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Share your concerns and create connections with others who are adjusting to COVID reality. Receive tips for centering yourself while things around you may be swirling. Part of the Cabin Fever Series. Co-sponsored by LifeBridge.
Jan 28, Feb 25; 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Develop a two or three word personal ‘compass’ to guide you through the confusing times that we are all facing. Part of the Cabin Fever Series.
Feb 15-18; 11:00 – 11:45 am
Learn and practice practical tips and tricks, such as mindfulness exercises – for reducing anxiety and elevating emotional and physical well-being in this every-changing internal and external landscape. Participation in all four sessions is valuable but not mandatory. Part of the Cabin Fever Series.
GRIEF SUPPORT
Jan 14, Feb 11; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
If you have experienced the death of a loved one by suicide, connect with others who understand, gain coping strategies, and receive guidance from a grief specialist.
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View our calendar for information about all our upcoming programs, workshops, and support groups.
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Jewish Community Services, an agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, is able to respond in times of crisis thanks to the funding and financial support it receives from The Associated’s Annual Campaign. Now, more than ever, we need your support to continue meeting the growing needs in our community. Please say, “Hineini: Here I am,” by choosing to support those in need through The Associated. Make a donation, make a difference, associated. org/give.
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