Providing meals and emergency services to those in need thanks to local foundations and utilities

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.