Our Accomplishments
Jewish Family Services Makes a Difference in Silicon Valley
Between July 2009 and June 2010,
JFS changed the lives of over 9,900 people:
- PROJECT N.O.A.H. (No One Abandoned Here): 520 people received assistance:
- Case management, counseling, support and assistance during times of transition: 153 people
- Food Assistance Program services: 3154 units of assistance
- 1350 food packages for families, seniors and adults
- 1520 prepared Shabbat meals
- 284 supermarket gift cards
- Other Basic Needs:
- 212 Target gift cards
- 123 gas cards
- $4753 of additional assistance (utilities, moving expenses, etc.)
- Embrace-A-Family: Over 200 people received gifts; over 800 gifts were donated.
- EITC Program: we helped an additional 114 people receive $149,617 in income tax refunds.
- INFO & REFERRAL: More than 5100 people received information and referrals to community partner services including Santa Clara County 211; and additional housing, food banks, Jewish resources, health providers, living shelters, domestic violence agencies, legal assistance and more.
- SENIORS:
- 368 elders received one or more of the following: home visits, Project N.O.A.H. food assistance, and case management services.
- 117 Chai House residents received one or more of the following: home visits, food packages, wellness workshops, healthy living activities (including fitness), assistance with daily living, and case management services.
- 103 caregivers of elderly parents and other relatives received support, encouragement, and information regarding care options.
- 175 holocaust survivors received one or more of the following: home visits, emergency assistance, important Claims Conference information, updates on survivors events, homemaker assistance, wellness workshops and greater access to medical services.
- 1700 Russian émigrés received our monthly Russian newsletter. Of these, 384 seniors did one or more of the following:
- Participated in ESL (English as a 2nd Language) classes and wellness workshops
- Received Project N.O.A.H. food assistance
- Participated in JFS-sponsored social/cultural events including Russian World War II Veterans Association activities
- Volunteered as Friendly Visitors, Shabbat and holiday package delivers, office assistants, and ESL instructors.
- COUNSELING AND PARENTING SERVICES:
- 112 parents received parenting support services, including Raising Parents workshops, and counseling for parents and children.
- 57 individuals received counseling, including 45 who received therapy and 12 clients who participated in weekly life coaching.
- JFS provided counseling and consultation at Yavneh Day School, APJCC Preschool, De Anza College ECE Center, and Gan Giti.
- JFS staff promoted the PJ Library among the Israeli and general community.
- VOLUNTEERS: over 850 people (including adults, teens, children, seniors, and families) touched thousands of lives as generations connected with each other:
- Project N.O.A.H. Food Assistance Program: holiday and year round package preparers and deliverers, bakers, Shabbat Meal deliverers, food drive organizers and sorters
- Holiday helpers: toy, clothing and gift drive organizers and wrappers; card makers
- One-on-one volunteers: Chaplain Aides, ESL tutors, Friendly Visitors, job search mensches, tax preparers
- Healthy Living Program volunteers: wellness workshop presenters, fitness instructors, activity room decorators, social cultural group leaders and performers
- JFS Media: hard copy and email newsletter editors and volunteers, webmasters
- Fundraising: 15 Yellow Tie Affair committee members and event workers; and nearly 300 Silicon Valley Duck Race committee members and festival volunteers
- 100 Knitzvah members (and affiliated groups) created over 1,700 hats, blankets, scarves, sweaters, stuffed animals, purses, mittens and more for isolated seniors, needy families, newborns including preemies, cancer patients, children in the shelter, Israeli soldiers and others needing cozy warmth.
- REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
- 117 newly arrived refugees, 37 recently-arrived elder refugees, and 102 sponsors received extensive resettlement, case management and social adjustment services. This included assistance with food, housing, schools, medical referrals, employment, household and computer donations, and family reunification.
- EMPLOYMENT:
- 162 underemployed adults participated in our Employment Network services and received career assessments, resumé assistance, coaching, vocational language training and job referrals. Of these 57 found jobs.
- 58 limited English speaking adults obtained and retained their first job in America.
- SILICON VALLEY DUCK RACE: over 3000 children, teens, adults had a glorious day in Vasona Park watching 15,000 rubber ducks race and enjoying a fun-filled festival. The race netted $60,000 for JFS and our “Duck Buddy” charities.
All in all, last year Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley enhanced the lives of over 9,900 people!
With your support, we will continue to make a difference.