JFCS Spotlight - November 2023

Food insecurity among older adults in our community is a serious issue. Yet, for the elderly who are homebound, the problem is far worse. They are both food insecure and socially isolated, without the physical means to nurture meaningful relationships with others. It is easy to take the food you eat and the people you eat it with for granted. Imagine what it might feel like to be home alone, unable to leave, without food and friends or family.

One of the ways JFCS addresses this issue is through Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW). Through KMOW, our homebound seniors are kept nourished, both physically and socially. Twice a week, a KMOW volunteer (as depicted in the images above) will come to our offices and pick up meals to deliver to their designated homebound older adults. We also provide special items at different times of the year, like mishloach manot at Purim, or special gifts at holiday time.

The job does not end at delivery - KMOW volunteers take the extra step and spend time with “their seniors” when making their deliveries. From casual conversations to more extensive sharing, volunteers and KMOW recipients engage in meaningful interactions that enrich both of their lives.

This is especially important during times of strife. Since the attacks in Israel on October 7th, we have been in more frequent communication with our elderly clients, offering support and a friendly ear. Our KMOW clients have received this support directly from their care managers and also on a weekly basis from their KMOW volunteers.

One of our long-time volunteers recently told us how especially appreciative her KMOW recipient was to receive meals from her these last few weeks. This client is a Holocaust Survivor, and the news coming out of Israel has uncovered deep trauma for her. Because she is homebound, she greatly values the opportunity to share her feelings with her KMOW volunteer (maybe even more than the food) and cherishes the time they spend together.

The KMOW program has been integral in sustaining our older adult population. When volunteers and recipients build close bonds, it nurtures the physical and emotional health of our entire community.

Dear Friends,

On the eve of Thanksgiving, it's apropos that this Spotlight focuses on Kosher Meals on Wheels, one of the JFCS programs that provide concrete, life-sustaining food.

On Thanksgiving, the real beauty of the holiday is in the people we get to be with, the friends and family we care about even more than the abundant food. Similarly, KMOW is about food, but even more about the human connection, the fact that a caring person has arranged this service and another caring person is coming to deliver it. So, too, is the dynamic in our Corner Market Food Pantry where families come because they cannot afford everything that they need at this time and JFCS can help. But we also help by caring deeply and looking beyond this initial need, referring to other programs and services, helping a family or individual achieve real change, and helping light the way to opportunity and hope.

At the core of all of our services is compassion and the wish among all of our staff, volunteers, and leadership for good health and a better future for the individuals and families we serve.

At this most difficult time, as we all pray for the return of the hostages to their families, for the safety of all in the IDF, and, ultimately, for peace, I am wishing you and your families a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude for all of our blessings.

Susan