Home>Weekly e-Update - February 25, 2009 - MetroWest Helps Update
February 25, 2009
In this Issue: "Max"imum Potential •from the New Jersey Jewish News MetroWest HELPS Update
MetroWest Helps Update
Upcoming Events
MetroWest Florida Reception Sunday, March 1
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Home of Ben and Shirley Aidekman-Kaye
Delray Beach, Florida
Centers of Influence, a Networking Opportunity Monday, March 2
6:30 p.m. Presented at a private home.
Spring Fling Thursday, March 12
7:00 p.m. Congregation B'nai Jeshurun
Short Hills
From Memory to History Through Thursday, March 12 Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus
Whippany
MetroWest Helps is Having an Impact MetroWest HELPS is a United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ supplemental funding initiative designed to actively address the needs of those affected by the ongoing economic crisis. Only a few months old, MetroWest HELPS is already having a serious impact on alleviating the suffering in the MetroWest Jewish community.
In the past three months, almost $350,000 in gifts has been raised by the MetroWest HELPS initiative. It is funding that has helped many of the partner agencies of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ increase staff and service hours, in response to the increase in caseloads and in the demand for their services by people who suddenly and unexpectedly find themselves unemployed, without health coverage, in danger of losing their homes, and suffering emotional distress and marital difficulties due to their economic circumstances.
In particular, two of UJC’s partner agencies — Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest and Jewish Family Service of MetroWest — have confronted the most severe increases in the demand for services. From September 2008 to this January, JVS saw an increase in its caseloads of nearly 40%. JFS has experienced a similar increase.
It is only due to the funding supplied by MetroWest HELPS that the agencies have been able to meet the growth in demand. It is funding that goes to help people like these:
“Michael” was divorced two years ago and recently was laid off. Since then, his unemployment insurance has run out, and he has spent all of his savings. He is now having difficulty making his child support and alimony payments, as well as his own rent. Michael is also uninsured, no longer able to maintain COBRA payments, and he is struggling with depression and anxiety. He comes to JVS for job counseling, help with writing his resume, and assistance with seeking new job openings.
“Robert” and “Sue” have three children, the oldest of whom is 14, and are now both going through mid-career changes. Robert had been a freelance consultant in the tech industry, and Sue was a teacher. Both are currently unemployed. The stress in their home is intense. Their children are beginning to display social problems in school and are not sleeping regularly. The couple has begun couples counseling at JFS and may soon begin attending counseling for the entire family.
Every week, more and more people come with these and similar problems, and no one knows when things will turn around and start getting better.
It is only through the gifts supplied by the MetroWest HELPS initiative that people like “Michael,” “Robert,” and “Sue,” and everyone in the MetroWest Jewish community, can be certain of receiving the help they need. It is an uphill battle, but it is a challenge that must be faced.
Here’s how you can help support your friends, family, and neighbors in these challenging times, by supporting MetroWest HELPS. Please, click here.
Copyright © 2010 The Jewish Federations of North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Directions to Aidekman Campus