We have such an important volunteer campaign going on for On the Go right now. We’re trying to recruit 60 volunteer drivers in 6 months. Can you imagine what it’s like to be stuck at home, without being able to drive anywhere? I’d hate it. That’s why I decided to let you know about this campaign. Why is this program so important? It provides transportation to older adults. But even more than that, it provides independence, freedom, socialization. It provides happiness. What does this mean to the riders? Nothing tells it better than their own words:

“I have a wonderful driver. She is delightful, charming, just a joy to be with. She has brightened my life.”

“I am very impressed with the kindness, patience and positive attitude from all of the volunteers. This program is fantastic!”

“I am so very thankful to be a member of Rides & Smiles—everyone is so helpful. You are a real blessing to me in my “golden” years (85). Thank you, Thank you, each one.”

“You do a wonderful service—I can still live again!!—And I am 92!!”

“Thank you for giving my mom her independence. What you provide is amazing.”

Read more about On the Go & volunteering: www.jfssd.org/onthego

Today, the Turk Family Center capital campaign group met. Led by campaign chair and major benefactor Jerry Turk, the committee is proud and delighted to announce that Jewish Family Service will be able to pay off the bond that was purchased when the money was pledged in 2006—$9 million. It’s pretty amazing that we’re on target to do this by the end of the year–our original goal. Considering these tough economic times, we feel fortunate to have such dedicated and generous donors who believe in the work we do. Thank you.

Last week our Foodmobile program was featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune. One of our longest running programs, it is also one of the most impactful.  Hot kosher meals are delivered by specially trained volunteers and paid drivers. Not only do volunteers deliver food, but they provide a friendly visit and conduct a personal and environmental welfare check. If any concerns are noticed, they notify our care management program so that a professional social worker can check out the situation. It’s a great way to keep the elderly in their own homes as long as possible.

Ever tried grocery shopping or cooking with poor eyesight, or bad health? It’s tough. Sometimes nearly impossible. Combine this with an absence of transportation and it’s easy to see why so many elderly members of our community stop eating regular meals altogether. In fact, I just learned that 50% of the elderly who are admitted to a hospital suffer from malnutrition. It’s hard to believe that in the United States today some people need to worry about having enough to eat. Many of our Foodmobile clients have no other food in their homes except what we deliver. Many would have no other visitors other than our volunteers.

For our clients who struggle financially, Foodmobile eliminates a choice many older adults have to make: whether to pay for food, rent, or their medicine. We operate on a sliding scale fee, so our clients only pay what they can afford. This way, no one is turned away.

What a great program to be featured in the Union-Tribune. I hope you take the time to read the article. Click here to see it online>>

Last Friday, we had our annual Holiday Party. We had to move the venue to a larger site to accommodate our growing staff (at last count it was 267!). There was such a great feeling of warmth and camaraderie–particularly after such a difficult year. Our staff worked tirelessly to make sure the needs in our community were met and their clients were served with dignity and respect. Thank you to all of our staff who helped make 2009 a better year for the people we serve, despite the economic difficulties our community faced.

One staff member stood out exceptionally this year. I’m happy to announce Etleva Bejko, Director of Refugee Resettlement, as this year’s Henrietta Rubenstein Staff Member of the Year. Etleva was presented with the award at the holiday party for the amazing job she and her staff have done this year.

Her department helps newly arrived refugees–people who are fleeing persecution, come from war torn areas and many who have suffered torture and have severe mental health issues. They arrive with little more than the clothes on their back and limited, if any, English. Etleva is herself an émigré so she knows firsthand the difficulty in becoming acculturated to a new country. Last minute phone calls have sent her to the airport for an unexpected arriving family. Last minute e-mails have sent her to the streets to find and furnish apartments. She picks up donations. Sorts them and stores them. She writes reports and grants. She’s out in the community finding jobs for her clients. She balances multiple budgets. She trains and mentors staff.

When Etleva came to JFS 7 years ago, the resettlement program managed less than 20 arrivals a year. With Etleva as head of the department, the program has grown to almost 500 arrivals per year, which makes it the #1 resettlement site for the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS). JFS of San Diego now resettles more refugees than any other JFS—yes, more than NYC, LA, Chicago, etc.  So, it was really nice to acknowledge her leadership and administrative skills.

Congratulations to Etleva and her wonderful staff, for a job well done.

Last Thursday (Dec. 3), was my 25th anniversary at JFS.  I can’t say it seems like yesterday, but it does seem like it’s gone by pretty quickly.  When I started here, JFS was essentially a counseling agency.  We were much smaller and much more focused on helping people with their psychological/emotional problems.  We needed to expand our services to be more community-based (we opened several branch offices to be more accessible) and we needed to figure out ways to address some tough issues like child abuse, teenage pregnancy, isolated elderly, the mentally ill.  Looking back, it’s really quite amazing how the agency has grown.  We now have individual programs to address all of those needs, and that’s just scraping the surface. See a list of all of our programs>>

Last Friday, I went to our annual thank you brunch for our On the Go volunteers.  Two quick stories: one driver, a retired police detective, told me his job was always enjoyable, but by the time he became part of the homicide division (the pinnacle in a detective’s career), it wasn’t much fun anymore.  He looked me in the eye and said, “Driving seniors is the best job I ever had.”  The other story is from one of the other volunteers who was recently asked by her rider which shul she belonged to and she answered “the Catholic one!”   This is why I love my job: working with people (volunteers, staff, board) who do amazing acts and show amazing commitment to help people……and always finding something to smile about too.

What a wonderful staff we have here at JFS! I just received this from our Human Resources Department:

Congratulations to Khalil Barkzai the December Employee of the Month! We would like to recognize and honor the commitment, hard work, and professionalism that Khalil Barkzai has brought to JFS over the last three years through the Refugee Resettlement Department and Hand Up Youth Food Pantry.

Khalil has been an essential part of the Refugee Resettlement Department’s growth and development. He is absolutely great at everything he does, and he does everything. When he is picking up donations he is efficient and professional. He puts a lot of care and effort when he is furnishing apartments for newly arriving refugees to make them feel warm and welcoming. He is the first to greet new refugee families when he picks them up at the airport with a huge smile on his face. Khalil has helped more than 20 refugee clients find jobs using his own personal contacts, and is continuously driving around the county giving rides to clients for different appointments and interviews.

Khalil also drives across the entire county for the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry to drop-off and pick-up food bins for food drives. Khalil has made friends with synagogue and school employees across the county with his charm and smile, and calls everyone “friend” to build relationships. When Khalil has a full truck he offers “free exercise” to anyone willing to help; he reminds us that we pay hundreds of dollars in gym memberships each year, when we can just exercise at work for free.

Khalil is also in charge of making sure food bag deliveries are made on time to 8 of Hand Up’s distribution locations across the county. He is an intricate part of making sure the food pantry is stocked and able to serve those who are hungry.

We would like to thank Khalil for his dedication, hard work and commitment for his years of service at JFS. Congratulations Khalil!

This just in from our Volunteer Services Department:

Congratulations to Melinda Wilkes, JFS Volunteer Services Manager, for being nominated for the Dee Warford-Kutch Volunteer Administrator’s Award at the Volunteer San Diego’s Volunteer Manager Recognition Event! The award honors professionals who exemplify the highest principles and ethics in the field of volunteer administration.

Melinda began working at JFS in 2006. Since that time, the Volunteer Services Department has grown significantly. With Melinda on board, our monthly average of enrolled volunteers has grown from 385 to 606 and the total number of recruited volunteers jumped from 250 to 963.

In addition, Melinda has been working non-stop on strengthening her professional and leadership skills. She’s completed her Volunteer Administrator Certificate (CVA), is enrolled in University of San Diego master’s program in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, she’s the current Co-Chair of DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies), she’s on the Community Advisory Board for volunteer managers, and she offers volunteer management tools, workshops, and brown bag lunches for volunteer managers throughout the county.

Congratulations once again to Melinda Wilkes – we’re very proud of her!

Learn more about our Volunteer Services Department>>

Last night, I attended an intimate fundraiser for our Parent and Youth Department at WineStyles in Encinitas. Great store–And they underwrote the event, which is wonderful. I spoke with a number of JFS staff working on our new Positive Parenting Program. We’ve recruited several young men and women who we’re now training to provide this service. One new employee even used to be a client of ours in our Mentoring Mothers Program, so I’m especially happy about having her on board. It’s going well–County funded and we’ve been exceeding our goals, so I’m really proud of how things are progressing. A number of local community members came to show their support. They appreciate all the wonderful work JFS is doing around the area.

This morning, I got up bright and early to plug our Thanksgiving Day Run for the Hungry on KUSI TV.  This is an amazing community event, with thousands of people meeting at Petco Park to raise money for the hungry in San Diego. The number of families unable to buy enough food has skyrocketed over the past year–we’re certainly seeing it here at JFS, so come on downtown on November 26th. Bring the whole family, including your dog! It’s been a family tradition for us for years. My daughter comes down from San Francisco and despite her real desire to sleep in, she gets up, puts on her running shoes, and goes full blast. I’m more of a walker and it’s great to meander through Gaslamp District with no traffic. Last year it poured; this year it’s going to be sunny skies, I promise!

Register online at: kathyloperevents.com/hungry

This just in from Shelly Hahne, Coordinator of the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry:

With the economic downturn, our Hand Up Youth Food Pantry is serving more clients than ever before. The number of clients receiving supplementary food bags has increased by 27% in the last 3 months alone—101% from this same time last year. Our food pantry now serves more than 1,400 clients  each month at 12 different locations throughout the county.

If you want to learn how to lose weight and keep it off, find a meeting at www.weightwatchers.com.

If your business is interested in helping the San Diego community by hosting a food drive, please contact the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry Coordinator, Shelly Hahne, at 858.637.3088 or handup@jfssd.org.

Maybe you’ve heard about Avi and Margarita–or maybe you’ve just seen them up in Times Square in New York. Avi, a JFS Board Member and Jewish Big Pal of nine years, and Margarita, a JFS Geriatric Case Manager, met through J-Date in 2007. They were married in April. Avi’s little pal, Michael, was the ring bearer in the wedding and signed the ketubah. So where does Times Square come in? This handsome couple of newly weds is now the face of J*Date’s marketing campaign! As you can see in the photo, their ads were bigger than life in Times Square recently. We are so happy for the two of them – Mazel Tov again!

Check out the photos: