The Westfield Fun Club, with whom we have been collaborating over the past few months to deliver food and other essential household items to over 100 refugee families in the Elizabeth area during the pandemic, is winding down their Emergency Food Initiative. (See the email) The Fun Club happily reports that many of the families no longer need the emergency supplies since they have returned to work and/or have seen an increase in SNAP benefits.
However, there are still roughly a dozen refugee and asylum-seeking households – mostly senior citizens – who need our continued assistance. The Fun Club is arranging for these families to be “adopted” by other families or groups who can provide them with weekly deliveries of food and household items.
We would like to assist in this effort, by “adopting” one or two families for July and August. The cost probably would be approximately $100/week/family, which would enable us to have a needed package of food and household items delivered to each family on a weekly basis. So, for our group to commit to supporting, say, two families for the summer months, the total cost would be approximately $1,600.
To enable us to commit to supporting these families, we need to raise funds quickly, within the next two weeks. Our commitment will depend on how much we raise.
If you would like to help, please send a contribution to Shomrei’s Rabbi Discretionary Fund, either online (http://shomrei.org/refugee) or by check through the mail (Congregation Shomrei Emunah, 67 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042; please make out the check to Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and indicate in the memo line that it should be directed to Refugee Assistance).
If you would like more information, please contact Andy (email hidden; JavaScript is required).
One of the families that we have been assisting during the past three years has had a recent run of bad luck with appliances — their TV, vacuum cleaner, and blender all broke down in the past couple of months. We think we have found a replacement TV for them, but if you know of someone who has a working second-hand blender and/or vacuum cleaner, please contact Andy (email hidden; JavaScript is required).
Thank you. As always, we appreciate your continued support!
Regards,
Judith, Mike, and Andy
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More About the Shomrei Refugee Assistance Group
Congregants concerned about the plight of refugees in today’s America have banded together to lend a hand. Headed by Judith Antelman, Mike Legman and Andy Silver, the group assists about a dozen refugee families who have recently arrived. The help may come in the form of reading English language, help navigating life in the United States, school supplies for the kids, necessities for newborns, winter clothing, help setting up an apartment, even a fundraiser to send kids to Summer Camp.
To help out, contact Lisa Zelenetz, synagogue Administrator at email hidden; JavaScript is required or call the office at (973) 746-5031
- Update from the Shomrei Refugee Assistance Group - Thu, Feb 15, 2024
- Shomrei Refugee Assistance Group Seeks Members - Fri, Mar 3, 2023
- Update from the Shomrei Refugee Assistance Group - Thu, Feb 16, 2023