A mother of four called Jewish Family Services in December. Her husband left and does not provide any financial support.
She works part-time at two jobs and had a full-time job scheduled to begin in January. Although she receives Food Share and a W2 grant for childcare, she needed help with December rent and utilities.
JFS was able to provide this client assistance through J-Help, Milwaukee’s Jewish community emergency assistance fund.
In 2011, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation began a broad appeal for help from the community that, to date, has raised more than $712,000. In the first two quarters of the 2012 fiscal year, JFS has granted nearly $90,000 from this fund to members in need of Milwaukee’s community.
The recent financial reversals that have driven individuals in Milwaukee’s Jewish community to seek financial assistance have not improved sufficiently to alleviate the needs for basics such as food, rent and medical assistance.
According to JFS, in the second quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, dollars granted for food and utilities almost doubled from the amount granted in the first quarter.
Referrals continue to be made by community rabbis and Jewish agencies, as well as from recipients’ family members, JFS employees and clients. Applicants have also contacted JFS after reading articles in the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Area organizations are helping to raise funds for J-Help. Milwaukee Jewish Day School students are currently bringing in donations to fill a large tzedakah box that was constructed by MJDS parent Jim Salinsky and decorated by MJDS students.
Each grade takes the box for one week with the challenge of collecting as much money as possible. In the first four weeks, the students in kindergarten through second grade have raised more than $350.
MJDS Head of School Brian King explained why this effort is so important to the school. “In keeping with our mission of teaching the Jewish values of tzedakah and tikkun olam, MJDS is proud to challenge our students to raise money for J-Help, which is filling basic, immediate financial needs for families in our community.”
King will present the box and the accumulated funds to MJF representatives at the MJDS “Living Green Giving Green” fundraising event on Thursday, March 22, at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
In addition, a percentage of the proceeds from the event’s auction will also benefit J-Help. “J-Help gives us the opportunity to connect Jewish values to our local community, and I am so proud of how committed our students are to this cause and to caring for others in need,” said King.
For more information or to purchase tickets to Living Green Giving Green, contact MJDS Director of Development Elizabeth Neubauer at 414-967-8312 or e-mail eneubauer@mjds.org.
If you would like to make a gift to J-Help, please mail a check to Milwaukee Jewish Federation, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202, or visit the website, www.milwaukeejewish.org.
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