Through its COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island continues to provide critical social services to Staten Islanders experiencing hardships brought on by the pandemic.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “As we approach what might be a second wave of the virus, we want you to know that we will still be here for you and we are prepared to serve you with compassion and care throughout this crisis.”
 
With temperatures dropping and positive case rates rising, many are worried about a severe winter, especially for the vulnerable senior population who may be isolated and unable to shop for themselves. The JCC recently held a virtual food drive—a safer alternative to traditional collections of canned goods—to raise money to provide free, grab-and-go meals to seniors for the next six weeks.
 
Since moving its wide range of social services under one COVID-19 Connect to Recovery banner in May, the JCC has also connected thousands of Staten Islanders with access to food, health insurance navigation, legal help, mental health support, and much more. Upon contacting Connect to Recovery, clients complete a remote, initial comprehensive intake and assessment with a JCC social worker. The program is open to everyone, regardless of religion, JCC membership affiliation, or other identifiers.
 
Samantha—a Connect to Recovery client whose name has been changed to protect her privacy—is an example of the kinds of help available at the JCC. Samantha used to clean houses for a living, but once the pandemic struck, her customers were afraid of exposure to the virus and stopped using her services. Out of work, she contacted Connect to Recovery to get food from the Kosher Food Pantry. During her initial conversation with a social worker, she mentioned that she had over $10,000 in credit card debt that she could not pay due to her situation. The JCC put her in touch with a New York Legal Assistance Group financial counselor to discuss her options. She also received referrals for SNAP benefits and other social services. Now that Samantha has been diagnosed with COVID herself, the JCC has even arranged to have her neighbor pick up food from the food pantry and deliver it to her.
 
“I was unaware of the positive impact that one phone call to the JCC would have on my life,” Samantha noted.
 
Like Samantha, many clients first contact Connect to Recovery for help with one problem but, through their conversations with the JCC’s social workers, realize that assistance is available for other hardships they are facing.
 
Neshama Marcus, Chief Program Director of Community Based Programs, said, “Individuals in crisis don’t need added difficulties right now. Connect to Recovery makes it easy to get all the help you need from our caring staff members.”  
 
If you or someone you know is in need of any assistance from Connect to Recovery, you can contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. For more information, click here.

We are proud to announce that we have named Sandor (Sandy) G. Haft, LMSW, the new Director of Resource Navigation. Mr. Haft will be leading the JCC’s Resource Navigator Program, which is part of the City’s contact tracing efforts. The program, which launched June 1st, helps individuals across the city who test positive for COVID-19 and those who have been exposed to the virus. Resource Navigators will reach out to those who are sick or in quarantine to provide them with resources and support, including access to food, mental health services, and legal and financial counseling.
 
“We are incredibly proud that the JCC was the only community organization on Staten Island chosen to be part of the program,” said JCC CEO David Sorkin. “In addition to helping those with COVID-19, the program will allow us to put people to work as Resource Navigators. We will be able to rehire many of the staff we furloughed at the beginning of this crisis, as well as hiring additional workers who are new to us, giving the economy of our borough a much-needed boost. With his professional background and gigantic heart, Sandy is the perfect person to lead us in this effort.”
 
Mr. Haft has worked at the JCC of Staten Island for the past four years as the Director of Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. In that role, he coordinates and supervises camp operations, as well as Sunrise year-round programming.
 
A native New Yorker, Mr. Haft is a lifelong member of the Jewish Community Center field, having begun his affiliation as a child at the Washington Heights YM-YWHA in Upper Manhattan and as a camper at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in Pearl River, New York. He has been associated with the Ys and JCCs in the New York metro area for over 30 years in various capacities. Mr. Haft most recently served as Associate Executive Director at the Rosenthal JCC in Northern Westchester, and simultaneously as Director of Sunrise Day Camp-Pearl River. 
 
Mr. Haft is a Licensed Master Social Worker and is an active member of the Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
 
Haft noted, “I’m proud to lead a team that will serve as a supportive voice in this time of chaos. I want to thank all the supervisors and navigators who are working incredibly hard every day to help connect New Yorkers to the services they need.”
 
Click here for more information on the City’s contact tracing program.

​As part of its COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is providing weekly donations of food to over 100 people who are affiliated with its soccer program.
 
After hearing from JCC Head Soccer Coach Alejandro Jimenez about how families in program were struggling due to the pandemic, JCC Director of Sports & Recreation Mike Reape knew he had to do something.
 
“Hearing the stories of what happened to our soccer families was heartbreaking,” said Reape. “Several of our kids lost parents. Other families have been out of work and are unable to afford basic necessities, like food. And many of these families have multi-generational households, so they are even more at risk of being negatively affected by this pandemic.”
 
Reape reached out to his coworkers in the JCC’s Social Services Department to arrange a donation to these families. Packages from the JCC’s Kosher Food Pantry—enough to feed each family for a week—now go out to these families once a week. Jimenez and other volunteers from the program deliver the food to 19 families across the Island.
 
“It’s part of our values at the JCC to help the community, and that starts with being there for our own participants and members when they need us. I’m so glad we are able to help these families,” Reape noted.
 
This donation is just part of the JCC’s overall response to the pandemic. Last month, we launched COVID-19 Connect to Recovery. The program allows Staten Islanders to access social services to help them recover from the effects of the crisis. All participants in the program have an initial comprehensive intake and assessment to see what services they are eligible to receive.

For more information on COVID-19 Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn Magliolo at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264.

Over our 90 year history, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has always adapted to the changing world around us. Our JCC has always found a way to help during a crisis—whether it was making bandages during WWII or helping people displaced by Sandy.
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This crisis is no different. Even though we had to close our doors to the public, we were still able to jump right in and provide services to those hit hardest by the virus. We quickly shifted our operations to take place remotely, and we formally launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Program last month.

Last week, we announced that we had been selected to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator Program. The program is part of the city’s contact tracing efforts, helping individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and those who have been exposed to the virus. Resource Navigators will reach out to those who are sick or in quarantine to provide them with resources and support, including access to food, mental health services, and legal and financial counseling.

We are incredibly proud that the JCC was the only community organization on Staten Island chosen to be part of the program. In addition to helping those with COVID-19, the program will allow us to put people to work as Resource Navigators. We will be able to rehire many of the staff we furloughed at the beginning of this crisis, as well as hiring additional workers who are new to us, giving the economy of our borough a much-needed boost.

You can learn more about the program, including how to get tested, here.

We are grateful to our JCC community, led by our incredible Board of Directors, for strongly supporting us every step along the way in this journey. As we navigate the road ahead, we look forward to continuing our mission of helping people and making our community a better place.

​On Wednesday, May 20th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York, announced the launch of COVID-19 Connect to Recovery. The program will allow Staten Islanders to access social services to help them recover from the effects of the crisis.
 
COVID-19 Connect to Recovery was created in response to the current and growing needs of the Staten Island community precipitated by the coronavirus crisis. All participants in the program will have an initial comprehensive intake and assessment to see what services they are eligible to receive.
 
Orit Lender, Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO of the JCC explains, “We know that so many people on Staten Island have been hurt by this crisis. We created COVID-19 Connect to Recovery to provide a one-stop shop experience for people in need. Through our intake process, we can identify people’s needs and refer them to services that they may not know they qualify for. During these difficult times, we want to ease the burden for as many families as we can by making it as simple as possible to access these crucial resources.”
 
Services provided by the program include access to the JCC’s Kosher Food Pantry, health insurance navigation, financial and legal counseling, and ESL and HSE classes. Participants will be screened and enrolled for benefits and entitlements, including SNAP benefits, utility assistance programs, and other services. Individuals in crisis will also be referred to partner organizations for short term loans, cash assistance, and other social services.
 
Mental health services include support groups for people of all ages, remote weekly meditation and mindfulness classes, and additional therapies such as art, music, theater, and dance. There will also be special support provided for essential workers.
Seniors will be able to receive grab-and-go meals and referrals for clinical counseling treatment through Weill Cornell. Specific services for Holocaust survivors, including providing Kosher food, will also be available.
 
The JCC’s COVID-19 Connect to Recovery will be helmed by Neshama Marcus, LMSW, Chief Program Director of Community Based Programs, and Amelia Winter, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, Director of Senior Centers. The JCC has a great deal experience in recovery services for the Staten Island community. Following Hurricane Sandy, the JCC sprang into action, launching a similar service to help people displaced by the storm.
 
JCC CEO David Sorkin noted, “After Sandy, the JCC was here for Staten Islanders, helping long after the storm surge had subsided. We plan to do the same during and following this current crisis. We hope to provide a lifeline to those struggling and help get Staten Islanders back on their feet.”
 
The program is supported by UJA-Federation of New York, the Robin Hood Foundation, Verizon, Con Edison, National Grid Foundation, Mannix Shop Rite Stores, United Way, Food Bank NYC, Met Council, the Brooklyn Home for Aged Men, the Mother Cabrini Foundation, Northfield Bank Foundation, M&T Charitable Foundation, Borough President James Oddo, and DYCD. COVID-19 Connect to Recovery programs will take place in conjunction with Met Council, NYLAG, Hebrew Free Loan Society, Project Hospitality, and Weill Cornell.
 
For more information on COVID-19 Connect to Recovery services, click here or contact Carolyn Magliolo at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264.

On Monday, May 11th, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC announced the donation of meals, flowers, and candy to program participants and staff from local developers David Berman and Murray Berman. The father and son purchased the items from their tenants, who are struggling due to the crisis. The goal of the donation was to benefit the JCC while also helping small businesses on Staten Island during this difficult economic time.
​
The donation consisted of 60 roast chicken dinners for families who attend JCC programs at the Gerard Carter Center, Todt Hill Community Center, and Richmond Terrace Community Center; 40 flower arrangements to be donated to Holocaust survivors in the JCC’s Café Europa program; and 50 candy baskets for JCC staff who are doing essential work through the crisis.

The donations came from La Rosa Chicken & Grill, 1172 Victory Boulevard, Langdon Florist, 1263 Clove Road, and Rocket Fizz Candy Store, 2955 Veterans Road West.

“We are so thankful for this generous donation to our program participants and staff,” said Orit Lender, JCC’s Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO. “We appreciate David and Murray Berman’s commitment to the JCC and to local businesses on Staten Island during this difficult time.”

For more information on JCC social services and the Families in Need fund, click here.

On Monday, April 20th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island announced that, thanks to the generosity of local foundations and utilities, hundreds of Staten Islanders will be able to receive free meals and other social services from the organization.

“Recognizing the level of food insecurity in NYC, especially for the isolated and medically-fragile elderly, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC, with the funding support of Con Edison, the Robin Hood Foundation, and Verizon, is ramping up the preparation, distribution, and delivery of nutritious Kosher and Halal food for seniors and others in need in our community,” said JCC CEO David Sorkin.

The funding for the program comes from a $25,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, a $5,000 grant from Con Edison, and a $5,000 grant from Verizon. These grants will allow the JCC to provide hundreds of meals to seniors and other vulnerable populations, as well as provide funding for other emergency services during the COVID-19 crisis.

“From the bottom our hearts, we thank you for these funds, which will help us sustain our emergency programs. We are so grateful to these foundations and utilities for their commitment to the JCC and Staten Island,” said Orit Lender, Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO.

Since the coronavirus crisis began, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has stepped up to ensure that Staten Islanders in need had resources and support during this difficult time.

Following the closure of JCC facilities to the public, staff members have been distributing thousands of meals to seniors, as well as others in need through its Kosher Food Pantry. The JCC recently established “grab-and-go” meal pickup sites, including the Gerard Carter Center in Stapleton.

In addition to providing meals, the JCC continues to provide social services to those in need during this crisis. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.

JCC staff members have also reached out to 300 seniors a day by phone, including those who attend the JCC’s three senior centers and individuals enrolled in the JCC’s Family Solutions to Memory Loss Programs. In addition to food, staff began providing resources and supplies to seniors isolated in their homes.

Other community services, including ESL classes and community afterschool programs, have also gone virtual, with activities taking place over Zoom. The JCC has also begun to offer free classes and lectures on its social media pages to entertain and educate those stuck at home.

Lender noted, “In these troubling times, when it feels like things are changing so quickly, we can be thankful for the things that will never change—like the JCC’s commitment to our Staten Island community. We are especially grateful for the heroes in our agency who have risen to this most challenging occasion. They remind us that our JCC is not just a building, but a force at the heart of our local community.”

To provide financial support for these programs, the JCC has also established Families in Need, a special COVID-19 emergency fund. The money raised will support the JCC’s social service programs.

Click here for more information on JCC social services. 
For more information on the Families in Need fund, click here.

Like many of our programs, our ESL (English as a Second Language) and HSE (High School Equivalency) classes have moved online so that students can continue learning while at home. Check out some photos of our teachers during their virtual lessons!

Since the coronavirus crisis began, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has stepped up to ensure that Staten Islanders in need had resources and support during this difficult time.
 
Following the closure of JCC facilities to the public, staff members distributed over 5,000 frozen and shelf-stable kosher meals to seniors in need as well as delivering meals to home-bound seniors. Meals were also distributed to the residents of Seaview Senior Housing, where the JCC operates the Social Services Office. The program is funded by the NYC Department for the Aging.
 
Additionally, the JCC has distributed meals to those in need through its Kosher Food Pantry, including special holiday meals. Thanks to the help of Borough President Oddo, the JCC was able to obtain 400 additional boxes of Kosher for Passover shelf-stable meals to ensure that no one goes hungry during the holidays.
 
“Usually, this time of year is celebratory,” noted CEO David Sorkin. “Despite the uncertainty around us, we want to maintain the spirit of the holidays by helping those in need access food for their families. This is something we do every year, but this year, we’re providing meals on a much larger scale.”
 
In addition to providing meals, the JCC continues to provide social services to those in need during this crisis. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.
 
JCC staff members have also reached out to 300 seniors a day by phone, including those who attend the JCC’s three senior centers and individuals enrolled in the JCC’s Family Solutions to Memory Loss Programs. In addition to food, staff began providing resources and supplies to seniors isolated in their homes.
 
Other community services, including ESL classes and community afterschool programs, have also gone virtual, with activities taking place over Zoom. The JCC has also begun to offer free classes and lectures on its social media pages to entertain and educate those stuck at home.
 
“Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 Staten Islanders in crisis,” said Sorkin. “Unfortunately, this year, we expect that number to grow as more people experience loss of wages, food insecurity, and isolation. If you are in need, we are here to help. We encourage Staten Islanders experiencing hardships to reach out to us for assistance during this difficult time.”
 
To provide financial support for these programs, the JCC has established Families in Need, a special COVID-19 emergency fund. The money raised will support the JCC’s social service programs.
 
For more information on JCC social services click here. For more information on the Families in Need fund, click here.

Over the past week, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has distributed nearly 5,000 meals to seniors in need across Staten Island.
 
Following the closure of JCC facilities to the public, staff members have been distributing frozen and shelf-stable kosher meals at the Bernikow Building as well as delivering meals to home-bound seniors. Meals were also distributed to the residents of Seaview Senior Housing, where the JCC operates the Social Services Office.
 
Staff members have also reached out to 300 seniors a day by phone, including those who attend the JCC’s three senior centers and individuals enrolled in the JCC’s Family Solutions to Memory Loss Programs. In addition to food, staff are providing resources and supplies to seniors isolated in their homes.
 
“Over the past 90 years, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC has occupied various buildings and spaces throughout our community. No matter where we were located, our mission has never changed—to provide services to those in need across Staten Island,” said JCC CEO David Sorkin. “Now, we see a clear need, and we are ready to transform the way we offer services to help those in crisis. Even with our buildings closed to the public, the JCC has stepped up to do everything we can to help the community during this time.”
 
In addition to providing meals, the JCC continues to provide social services to those in need during this crisis. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.
 
“With each and every passing day, we will continue to listen, adapt, and deliver to those hit hardest by this crisis. Please know that if you have a need, we are here for you,” noted Sorkin.
 
The meal program for seniors is funded by the NYC Department for the Aging.

​For more information on our social service programs, click here.