• KAVOD Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund (SHEF), in partnership with Marcy Gringlas, Joel Greenberg, and Seed the Dream Foundation, to provide basic needs services for Holocaust survivors
• Abramson Senior Care, to provide food and supplies for the homebound elderly
• Jewish Relief Agency (JRA), to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for ongoing food distribution
• Personal Protective Equipment to provide 1,000 masks to partner agencies while they provide ongoing care to serve the basic needs of their clients
• Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence (J’CHAI), to provide food and supplies to their developmentally-disabled, home-based adult clients

• Latet Israel, a matching grant with Seed the Dream Foundation, to help the most impoverished and isolated elderly, including thousands of Holocaust survivors
• Leket Israel, the National Food Bank, to purchase nutritionally balanced meals for high-risk individuals
• Orr Shalom, to cover the Passover expenses for the most vulnerable at-risk children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect

• Sign up here to deliver pre-packed bags of food and emergency supplies through the Mitzvah Food Program
• Email John Eskate at jeskate@kleinlife.org to deliver pre-cooked meals through KleinLife’s Home Delivered Meals Program
• Sign up here to call and check in with a local senior as part of the “Phone-a-Friend” program

• $34,600 to Kleinlife’s Meal Delivery Program for older adults, providing 8,100 kosher prepared meals during March and April
• $20,700 to the Mitzvah Food Program for those who have recently become food insecure, to offset the cost of food and supplies for an increasing client base
• $25,000 to Jewish Family & Children’s Services to provide grants of $500 to 50 households for basic needs such as rent, mortgage or utility payments
• $1,500 to Philly Friendship Circle to help families of children with disabilities to pay for basic necessities including support staff

• More than 1,700 meals were delivered through Kleinlife’s Meals on Wheels
• Nearly 90 people volunteered to deliver necessities to the vulnerable and homebound through the Mitzvah Food Program
• 136 grocery bags were packed and distributed by Mitzvah Food Program’s Mainline pantry, totaling nearly 2,500 pounds of nonperishable and fresh produce
• 680 households received a total of 24,000 pounds of food from Mitzvah Food Program’s five pantry locations
• More than 300 members of the community joined webinars to hear crucial updates, share ideas, and gain insight and inspiration from faith leaders
• Nearly 80 people signed up for the Phone-a-Friend program, and will begin contacting homebound older adults next week

• Seniors and other members of our communities who are home-bound due to their high risk of contracting the virus
• Our food insecure populations already being served by our agencies and by us
• Those who now find themselves food insecure due to a loss of wages and or jobs, or loss of income as small business owners
• People with developmental or physical disabilities whose regular care may be interrupted
• Those who are served by community programs that run on the power of volunteers who are no longer able to carry out this important work.

In times of uncertainty, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has always been a safe haven for people to turn to for help, guidance and comfort. Now we are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic by ensuring that our critical work continues with vigor. The elderly, infirm, hungry and most vulnerable individuals in our region need our help. And we are here for them.

We have begun evaluating community needs and we are making contingency plans to maintain delivery of critical services. Beginning tomorrow and continuing weekly as needed, the Jewish Federation will hold conference calls with leaders of local agencies, synagogues and day schools to obtain needs assessments, discover opportunities for collaboration, and share updates. We are also working with partner agencies who provide services to the most vulnerable individuals. We are resolute in our goal to ensure all needs are met.

Following the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, local officials and our own Emergency Response Committee, all Jewish Federation events scheduled from now through the end of Passover are postponed.  Updated information will be communicated via email and on our website — Jewishphilly.org.

Likewise,  we are taking every precaution to keep ourselves and our staff safe so we can continue to effectively and efficiently serve our community. On Monday, March 16th, Jewish Federation professionals will conduct a work-remotely test day to ensure that all of our virtual systems are in place. In the event of mandatory self-quarantines, we want to make certain we are prepared.

While keeping our community safe during the COVID-19 outbreak is our top priority, we are planning future events and programs that will build upon our welcoming, vibrant Jewish community and engage people of all ages in extraordinary Jewish experiences. Your generous support is imperative, and we ask for your continued participation in maintaining the work of our organization.

We offer prayers of healing to those affected worldwide. Please keep yourselves and your families safe by following CDC precautions to stay healthy during this outbreak. Additional information can be found at World Health Organization. And please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions or concerns.

Sending you all wishes of sustained good health.

Sincerely,

Susanna Lachs Adler
Board Chair
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia