The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2005 - Page 2
JEWISH^
FEDE^RATION^
Federation News
JEWISH^
FEDE^RATION^
Local, Global, Eternal
Local, Global, Eternal
“Your Federation Dollars at Work”
Jewish Family Services: Tzedakah in Action
By Aree Skolnik
Established in 1980, Jewish
Family Services (JFS) has been an
integral part of the community for
25 years. The mission of Jewish
Family Services of Greater
Charlotte is to deliver appropriate,
professional and confidential
counseling and social service
assistance based on the identified
needs in the Jewish community.
When appropriate, Jewish Family
Services also works collaborative-
ly to meet the needs of people in
the broader Charlotte area.
In 2005, the Jewish Federation
of Greater Charlotte allocated
$185,000 to JFS, plus additional
funds for the Charlotte Jewish
Community Tzedakah Fund, a
program to help those who require
emergency financial assistance.
The professional staff of JFS
success^lly meets the needs of
Jewish families and individuals in
the community through older
adult services, vocational services,
tzedakah, counseling, and com
munity outreach. The agency’s
dedicated staff consists of some of
the best-trained and most compas
sionate individuals in their fields.
Highly trained, fully accredited
professionals with years of experi
ence, they have made a difference
in the lives of many. The agency
also depends on more than 200
volunteers to serve our ever-grow
ing population.
In 2005, JFS impacted the lives
of more than 2,000 individuals
and families in our Jewish
The JFS Food Pantry is ready for
clients to come anytime.
Community. “The needs are
greater and it’s more important
than ever that we are here for
assistance,” JFS_ Executive
Director Penny Wagner-Schuster
said. “Many of the members of
the community have turned to us
for the first time, realizing help
and resources are right in front of
them.”
The people who depend on JFS
come from all walks of life and
represent all age groups and
income levels. “Contrary to the
belief that JFS only serves the
fringes of society, we have an
amazingly diverse client base,”
Wagner-Schuster said. “We’re
guiding our friends and neighbors
... people just like you and me.”
JFS’s service areas include the
following areas.
Shabbat Candle Lighting For
November 2005
Friday, November 4, 5:08 PM
Friday, November II, 5:03 PM
Friday, November 18, 4:58 PM
Friday, November 26, 4:55 PM
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The Charlotte Jewish News
5007 Providence Road, Suite 112 - Charlotte, NC 28226
Office Hours
Hours: 10:00 AM -4:00 PM
Phone
(voice mail after office hours)
Office 704-944-6765
FAX 704-365-4507
JEWISH^
FEDERATION ^
email: amontoni@shalomcharlotte.org
An Affiliate of the
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Amy Krakovitz Montoni - Editor
Advertising Coordinator/Sales Rep: Rita Mond, 704-366-6632
Advertising Sales Reps: Pam Grossman, 704-841-1544;
Jodi Valenstein, 704-841-4040
CJN Editorial Board
Co-Chairs - Bob Abel - Bob Davis
Members: Evelyn Berger, Ann Langman,
Linda Levy, Jeff Epstein
The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality or kasoith of any product or
service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an
endorsement of any candidate, political party or position by this newspaper, the
Federation or any employees.
Published monthly except July
Older Adults
The agency is proud of its com
mitment to seniors in our commu
nity as demonstrated by program
ming and outreach efforts. More
than 1,000 older adults attended
agency-sponsored programs this
year. JFS staff visits assisted liv
ing facilities and nursing homes
around Charlotte on a regular
basis. They also offer home visits
for clients who cannot come to the
office. Older adults are provided
with .Jewish programs, counsel
ing, social support, and future
needs assessment with family
involvement. JFS is concerned
with the whole situation of each
individual.
Vocational
Unemployment and financial
difficulties seem to be a major rea-
Mitzvah baskets make nice decorations
or centerpieces for your next event.
The Red Hat Yentas are among the.
older adults served by JFS.
son JFS is called. Although this is
one of the oldest components to
the agency’s list of services, in
January of this year, JFS expanded
and formalized its Vocational
Program to assist those unem
ployed or seeking a career change.
A part-time Vocational Counselor
was-hired to assist with job place
ment and career assessments. JFS
anticipated that they would help
ten individuals during the first
year. JFS saw that many people
during the first three months of the
program’s existence.
Counseling
JFS employs master level
licensed clinicians with vast expe
rience. They provide professional
counseling and group support to
children, individuals, couples, and
families. JFS clinicians provided
more than 1,000 counseling ses
sions and handled 350 information
requests this year.
Tzedakah
JFS provides emergency finan
cial assistance and food to those in
need. Through the community’s
Tzedakah Loan Fund, JFS assess
es individual and families facing
financial crises. In 2005, the
agency’s food pantry was
accessed more that 100 times each
month and JFS Mitzvah Maker
Volunteers prepared almost 200
home-cooked meals, logged over
1,000 volunteer hours and provid
ed 350 rides to the doctor, grocery
store and other appointments.
Community Outreach
JFS offers workshops and sem
inars on a variety of issues of
importance to community mem
bers. In November, JFS will
start a six-week workshop for
adolescents whose parents are
divorcing and another six-week
workshop on transition and loss.
JFS also collaborated with the
Levine JCC to offer Red Cross
Babysitting Certification.
■ JFS works with Charlotte
organizations and responds to
the wider community’s needs, as
well. Since Hurricane Katrina,
JFS has worked closely with
many members of the temples to
assist the survivors of the hurri
cane through food and housing
support.
There will always be difficult
times for individuals and families
in the Jewish community. All ages
and all economic situations come
to JFS to benefit from agency pro
grams and services. JFS is here for
the entire Jewish community of
Charlotte.
Penny Wagner-Schuster con
cludes, “It’s clear that we’re an
essential resource for the Jewish
families in the region. The gener
ous allocation from the Federation
and the participation of everyone
who donates to the Federation
Annual Campaign so unselfishly
ensures that we’ll keep our doors
open and our services in opera
tion. This is Tzedakah at the high
est level, and we’re so grateful for
the opportunity to continue our
efforts.”
JEWISH^
FEDE^RATlONj
R L O T T E
Local, Global, Eternal
CONTENTS
Judaic Library and Resouce
Center
...p. 19
Federation News pp. 2,-4
Community News pp.S-12
Jewish Traveler p.l3
Diuing Out pp. 23-25
Jewish Community Center pp. 26, 27
Synagogues and
Congregations ...pp. 26-22, 25,28, 29
Youth Visions pp. 14,15
Jewish Family Services pp. 16,17
Mazel Tov p. 18
Schools pp. 30-32
How I Spent My Summer Vacation ...pp.33-35
Women’s Page p. 35
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