Danielle V. Minson — Raising the Bar
COVID-19 community update; remembering the Holocaust
Today is Yom HaShoah, the Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. My Grandma Rose was the oldest of 11 children. Of the 11 children, only two survived the Holocaust. I am very fortunate that my grandma left Europe for the US when she was 14. Her brother Shlomo left Europe at age 16 for Israel. The other nine siblings, who stayed in Europe, were all slaughtered at Auschwitz. As you know, there is so much more to our stories. I will always remember them.
Today, please join me along with others in our community to collectively remember those whom we lost during the Holocaust at The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center’s Digital Yom HaShoah Commemoration, 12-1 pm.
This is a hard time for so many, including our most vulnerable. Here’s an example of how we are helping.
A social worker of Jewish Family Service (JFS), “Rebecca,” went into the home of a senior who lives far from Amberley to the north, and found that she had no toilet paper, food, or other essential supplies. The family did not respond. Rebecca immediately got the urgently needed items from the Heldman Family Food Pantry in Clifton, and drove them back up. She continues to check on the client regularly, and the client told her she is very grateful.
This story made me incredibly proud. Your support of the Federation’s Annual Campaign is crucial, every day. Thank you.
Just this week, you can be proud that, as part of Federation, you mobilized to help local Holocaust survivors and many of our most vulnerable:
Delivered fabric masks to local Holocaust survivors so they can stay as safe as possible (Jewish Family Service).
Sent letters and artwork made by local community members to help connect Holocaust survivors and other seniors at risk of isolation. This initiative, called “Project Connect,” was initiated by Jewish Family Service in partnership with PJ Library, The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, and Rockwern Academy.
“We are very aware of the impact social isolation has on our clients. Family members often aren’t able to visit, routine medical visits are canceled. All of this is a recipe for faster and further decline of our older adults. So we are calling, emailing, and snail-mailing our clients.”
—Ann Sutton Burke, Vice President of Client Services at JFS
Distributed over 4,500 health hygiene and activity kits to Israeli Arab and Bedouin families through volunteers, with materials about how to use them and how to practice social distancing (JDC).
While your support has been helping in all these ways, 18 Cincinnati Jewish organizations, who faced significant financial pressure as a result of projected revenue loss from COVID-19, were able to secure 95 percent of the nearly $4.5 million requested from the national CARES Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP). This win prevented substantial layoffs and furloughs, including for employees of the JCC; many other US JCCs have already had to implement significant layoffs.
This is a difficult and lonely time for so many. But also a time of hope. Your support of the Federation’s Annual Campaign is crucial, every day. You positioned Federation to bring together social service agencies, government, and leaders to tackle community-wide problems in a coordinated, comprehensive way. Thank you.
Wishing a healthy and memorable week for you and yours.
