Outreach program announced for older Jewish women

Jewish Women's Foundation of San Diego County
Jewish Women’s Foundation of San Diego County

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Celebrating 12 years of improving the lives of Jewish women and girls, the Jewish Women’s Foundation (JWF) has announced its third major initiative: reaching and connecting Jewish older adult women to avoid loneliness and isolation. The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) and Jewish Family Service (JFS), the initiative grant recipients, will receive a total of $210,000 over the next three years.

Both programs will identify women over the age of 75 who lack adequate family support and are financially vulnerable, offer dynamic programming to engage new and existing clients, build intergenerational relationships and host events.

The JCC will invite participants to a wide array of social, cultural, recreational, and educational activities such as classes in a variety of topics, clubs, Jewish holiday celebrations, and outings. Women who are already active in the JCC Senior programs will host the newcomers for afternoon teas and Shabbat dinners around the county, and serve as ambassadors and familiar faces to welcome the new women when they attend JCC activities. The JCC will also offer technology tutoring with teens for the seniors to keep in touch with their grandchildren, and also mentor the teen volunteers. In addition the JCC will advocate for affordable fees for Jewish communal engagement. For more information about the JCC’s programs, please contact Melanie Rubin, Director of Senior & Adult Programs, at (858) 362-1141 or melanier@lfjcc.com.

JFS will expand its Bikkur Holim Friendly Visitor Program, increase Sunday transportation, lunch and entertainment at its College Avenue Center, partner with The Friendship Circle and provide technology education. Program outreach will be focused in eastern San Diego. For more information about JFS’s programs, please contact Katya Teplitsky, Bikkur Holim Coordinator, at (858) 637-3082 or katrinet@jfssd.org.

The JWF developed this initiative based on structured conversations with local rabbis and Jewish agency executive directors who acknowledged a need for services dedicated to Jewish women in San Diego, over the age of 75, who are isolated and lonely. Further focus groups with older women confirmed the need for specific programming designed for this demographic.

The JWF, a program of the Jewish Community Foundation, consists of more than 80 women who support the Jewish community through innovative and creative funding to benefit and enhance the lives of Jewish women and girls locally and globally. Previously, the JWF funded Supporting Jewish Single Parents at Jewish Family Service and funded four leadership and empowerment programs for Jewish teen girls.

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Preceding provided by the Lawrence Family JCC