Jewish Federation leads the way in 'Unity is Community'

Through Dec. 31, 2020, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando held a Human Services Relief Matching campaign, sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America. The Federation raised $62K, which JFNA matched with $31K (50 percent matching gift), equaling a total of $93K for our community.

JFNA saw the need to create the Human Services Relief Matching Fund because of the economic crises - approximately 1.2 million Jewish adults felt the financial crunch that affected housing costs, and food security.

Federation Executive Director Keith Dvorchik contacted Jewish Family Services of Orlando, Central Florida Hillel, the Jewish Pavilion, Kinneret Council on Aging, and the Rosen JCC and Roth Family JCC to discuss their COVID-related needs. Dvorchik discovered that that through October 2020, JFS Orlando had a significant increase in several areas, including a 227 percent increase in the Pearlman Pantry food service; a 50 percent increase in counseling; and a 78 percent increase in the Family Stabilization Program. Throughout the past year, JFS Orlando CARES has provided emergency financial assistance for Orange County residents who have been impacted by COVID-19. This program is made possible through a Housing and Community Development grant as part of the CARES Act and in partnership with the TOP Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Capital Alliance.

Central Florida Hillel needed a UCF campus counseling service, Federation made sure Hillel had the money. In addition to the funds received through the Human Services fund, a fund was created at JFS to subsidize the cost of counseling at UCF.

"The days of us being isolated are over," said Dvorchik. "All our Jewish agencies and synagogues are working together to ensure we are having an impact on our community."

After the assessments were made and the funds received, JFGO distributed funds to these agencies as follows:

Jewish Family Services - $48K

Central Florida Hillel - $20K

And $5K each to the Jewish Pavilion, Rosen JCC, Roth Family JCC, Kinneret Council on Aging and Food Cart From the Heart (JFGO).

Little Free Pantry Project

In addition to the Human Services Relief matching campaign, Dvorchik learned of a program run by a longtime friend, Summer Faerman, who started a Little Free Pantry in Boca Raton. Faerman is the director of The Meryl and Ron Gallatin TLC program for B'nai Torah Congregation in Boca. Similar to the Little Lending Library, which is located outside of Temple Israel in Winter Springs, this pantry is based on the "Need - take, Have - give" principle, and provides food for anyone who needs, and receives food from anyone who wants to give.

Dvorchik plans for the Federation to begin by establishing 10 of these little pantries around Central Florida and hopes to build a volunteer base of individuals, or "pantry heads," who will maintain the pantries by putting together teams to restock the pantries. He is currently looking for places to build these little pantries. If you would like to volunteer, please call 407-645-5933.

CC's Wish List and Enchanted Bacpacks

An organization JFGO has partnered with is the Lavin Family Foundation, which is experienced in corporate buying to purchase brand-new products at incredible low prices then donates to nonprofits with no strings attached. Based in Chicago for several years, it is now expanding its programs to Florida and has chosen Orlando as one of their starting points.

The Jewish Pavilion has already benefited from one of the projects of the Foundation. CC's Wish List donated women's socks, both women's and girls' underwear and lounge pants, along with men's briefs and socks to the Federation to distribute. CC's Wish List donates to pre-qualified nonprofits. (See page 2 for full story).

Enchanted Backpack follows the same process for schools with at least 50 percent free or reduced lunches, with purchases made for school products - pencils, pens, notebooks, backpacks, sports equipment - items that teachers had been buying with their own money.

For more information about any of these projects, please call the Federation at 407-645-5933.