News Articles

NORC Survey Completed
A survey of tenants at B’nai B’rith Apartments has been completed by JFS as part of the Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) project that was started several months ago. With a State grant, the NORC project will enhance aging in place for tenants and will be completed by June 30, 2010. T he plan will outline steps that can be taken to expand services to tenants, and steps will be taken to find funds to i8mplement the plan thereafter.

NORCS are in quite a few major cities, but not in many small or mid sized communities such as Wilkes-Barre. The PA Jewish Coalition is praised for undertaking this new initiative in Pennsylvania.

Backpacks for Kids
A Scranton project has been proposed for Wyoming Valley. JFS has sent information about the backpack for kids program to the synagogues in the Valley Donations are encouraged of store vouchers, clothing, backpacks, ands school supplies to needy families.  Monetary donations are also encouraged.

Rich Mates forwarded a copy of the brochure and noted that in his community in the Scranton area, 115 backpacks for kids had been prepared. Forms are used to obtain the child’s size and color preferences and a checklist used before the backpack is sent out .No child’s name is noted and he or she does not know the donor.

It should be noted that the award winning JFS Kids Care Club program has developed some projects that enable backpacks to be prepared.

Kosher Home Delivered Meals Program Continues
The long standing JFS Kosher Home Delivered Meals( KHDM) Program continues, serving at least 20 people most weeks, and annually producing thousands of meals. The process has been in placed for decades and allows the Jewish home in Scranton to prepare the meals, a person from Wilkes-Barre picks up the meals each Monday and takes them to the JFS office, a Clerical Aide at JFS prepares the bags for each person, and volunteers deliver the meals. Funding comes from the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

The program has been a highly productive service, and helps home bound individuals or couples to receive food, in addition to the Food Pantry that is in the JFS office.

JFS Receives Special grant from PNC Foundation
The JFS Board and staff thanks the PNC Foundation for a recent grant that has been received to help add to the long standing Emergency Financial Assistance Program. This function helps individuals and families in financial difficulty in paying bills such as utilities, mortgages, insurance, etc. However, the new fiscal year for 09-10 saw a cut in funding for the program, so that other sources are being sought for at least $1400. The PNC Foundation grant of $500 helps to bring these funds back toward the 08-09 total.

However, more funds are needed to reach the goal of at least $1400 being added to the total available in the JFS budget. Anyone desiring to make a contribution should contact the JFS office.

FEMA Funding Added for JFS Food Pantry
New FEMA funding has come to the JFS agency for adding emergency food to Sara’s Table, the food pantry at JFS. The FEMA funds are in addition to the standard funding that has traditionally been made available, and Luzerne County received funds under the federal Stimulus bill. The $2000 additional dollars provide either direct food from the Pantry or food certificates that are made available to Jewish families in need. These new funds must be utilized by September 30, 2009, the end of the 08-09 federal fiscal year.

A Board member from JFS and the staff executive director serve on the Advisory Board for Luzerne County that meets at the United Way office.

Client Request for Housing Fulfilled
Recently, a JFS client was helped in securing housing that has assisted that individual to relocate in Wyoming Valley. Housing resources are not ordinarily thought of as being a problem for JFS clients, however, this issue has increased in importance since the recession started over the last two years. Housing in  the region has never been a high priority, but this is changing with the needs adjusting to the loss of jobs, mortgages being foreclosed, and more attention being  placed upon the needs of people in financial distress. There are many reasons why clients might require new residential facilities. JFS staff will assist in this regard wherever and whenever possible.

Emergency Preparedness Information Being Developed
The Jewish Emergency Preparedness Task Force has recently received information regarding a special publication used in Florida that provides detailed information on disaster preparedness for elders. There is much information that can be transferred to the Pennsylvania experience on tips to help in many kinds of emergencies. This can include floods, other major disasters, freezes, hazardous material incident5s, and other problems.

The task force locally will be reconvened in the near future to study the Florida documents and see what can be transferred to the Commonwealth and this Valley.

A strong recommendation is to have each household have their own plan so that they can know quickly what to do during an emergency situation, including a disaster preparedness kit to sustain yourself for at least several days.