SOVA 2010 Newsletter - Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
Transcription
SOVA 2010 Newsletter - Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
2010 UPDATE SOVA COMMUNITY FOOD AND RESOURCE CENTER “I never thought I’d end up here,” says Sarah, a 42-year-old mother of two, confusion and anguish in her eyes. “I had a job. I had a house! What happened?” At SOVA, we hear that question a lot these days. Every morning, two hours before our food pantries open, men and women of all ages, races, and ethnicities begin lining up: on beautiful, cloudless days, in the pouring rain, in last September’s record-breaking heat wave. The numbers keep rising and as the economic downturn drags on, we’re stunned by how widely the need has spread. Who comes to see us? A grandmother of 55 trying desperately to support her grandson on a small disability check. A recently-divorced mother of three on the verge of losing her home. A white-collar worker of not-quite-retirement age who has been jobless for so many months that his savings have long disappeared. SOVA's client visits have more than doubled over the past three years. 140,000 119,000 120,000 80,000 Angeles County exceeds the national average. So does the rate of unemployment–which doesn’t count the numbers of workers who are underemployed or have given up on the job search. With a workforce of about 4.9 million in Los Angeles County, by July 2010, 655,100 were unemployed (in late 2007 the number was 263,200). The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank reported (Sept. 2010) that 1 in 6 Los Angeles residents struggle with hunger. 69,045 55,760 60,000 40,000 The numbers speak volumes. Today, the poverty rate in Los 99,710 100,000 40,842 39,804 42,455 49,861 31,848 20,000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Every month, SOVA helps these people and more than 10,000 others in similar situations. Not only do we provide food and groceries, but we also provide access to community resources, on-site food stamp enrollment, and legal, vocational and nutritional counseling. And we do it with courtesy and compassion – in a way that preserves our clients’ dignity, gives them hope, and enriches their lives. 2010 projected Families report having to choose between feeding their families and paying bills for utilities, rent, transportation, medicine and medical care. Hundreds of thousands are suffering, and we have no illusions that conditions will improve any time soon. What we do have is hope– because we know we can help. Every day, as we provide groceries, counseling, referrals, and support, we see the light return to the eyes of people like Sarah. “I am so glad I asked for your help,” she told us. “SOVA is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” front cover - pg 1 More people visited emergency food programs (including SOVA) in 2010 than at any time in our history. Meeting this unprecedented level of hunger and poverty requires the talents, skills, and support of every segment of our community. Staff, volunteers, donors, businesses, congregations, schools, foundations, The Jewish Federation, government agencies, and more all contribute to meeting the need. SOVA is truly a community program–together we provide essential nutrition, counseling, and supportive services to an enormous and growing population of vulnerable individuals and families. Last year alone, SOVA provided the equivalent of 1.7 million meals. This is a staggering number, but what stands out is how we provide this relief in a manner that honors the dignity of each and every client. People select their own groceries, we respect special dietary requirements, and care is taken to insure that the available selections are as healthy, fresh, and nutritious as possible. Fred Summers A SPECIAL THANK YOU JFS { SOVA thanks Barbara Weiser Margolis and Rick Powell for their tireless commitment and devotion to combat hunger. But food is only part of the story. In addition to groceries, each client is provided with information, referrals and resources to help them regain self-sufficiency. Our pantries’ services include counseling, legal advice, employment assistance, and other community resources. Through the efforts of all elements of the “SOVA team,” struggling people reclaim the dignity they deserve. Our commitment to our community honors the true meaning of tikkun olam–repairing the world. We are the fortunate ones–the ones who have the chance to serve! Won’t you join us? Fred Summers JFS { SOVA Director of Operations Imagine being responsible for feeding more than 10,000 people. This past August, that challenge became a reality. Every month, the number of people in need continues to climb. And with the holidays coming up, we are once again expecting record numbers of people desperately seeking assistance. It is hard not to become passionate about what SOVA does when you see what an incredible difference we are making in the lives of individuals who are down on their luck and in need of a helping hand. Barbara Weiser Margolis & Rick Powell No donation is too small. We would love it if you got involved–come spend a few hours volunteering, host a neighborhood food drive, or start collecting cans of food at your place of business. To learn more about how you can help SOVA, please call (818) 988-7682. 10,000 people are hungry –that’s a lot of mouths to feed. But if we all pitch in, our community will benefit in ways we can’t even imagine. Barbara Weiser Margolis Co-Chair, JFS { SOVA Advisory & Resource Development Committees Rick Powell Co-Chair, JFS { SOVA Advisory & Resource Development Committees I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 7:00am The warehouse staff arrives and begins loading the SOVA trucks. They will handle more than 8 tons of food by the end of the day. inside front cover - pg 2 I 7: Tho for of JFS { SOVA ♥ s Our Volunteers! Volunteers are the heart of SOVA. To meet the needs of our over 10,000 clients each month, we rely on a great team of 250 dedicated core volunteers and hundreds of others, all committed to helping to alleviate hunger in the community. We could not possibly meet our mission without them – without you! How does volunteering at SOVA make you feel? When I leave SOVA after a morning of volunteering, I feel grateful–both for having the chance to volunteer for such a dedicated, inspiring organization, and for my own blessings in my life. There are many places where I could volunteer, but I keep coming back here–the atmosphere is so welcoming and positive. ? s Our New Metro SOVA Community Food and Resource Center Last month, a new chapter in SOVA’s long history began with the relocation of our “Beverly-Metro”site. For more than 20 years, SOVA served the midtown Los Angeles community from a storefront at 7563 Beverly Boulevard. Over the years, however, the number of clients needing assistance became far too great to be met by this small facility, resulting in long lines of people and long waits for service. SOVA is proud to announce our relocation to a new facility, large enough to truly serve the needs of the local community. The new site, located at 1140 North La Brea Avenue, provides increased food storage and distribution capacity, as well as additional meeting space for our clients and volunteers, social workers, and Community Connection partners. It is also located closer to the center of the client population we serve, which will allow SOVA to strengthen ties to the City of West Hollywood, an important supporter of SOVA for many years. Locations: SOVA WEST: 8846 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 SOVA METRO: 1140 N.La Brea Ave., W. Hollywood, CA 90038 SOVA VALLEY: 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91406 I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 7:30am Though the pantry will not be open for more than two hours, the line of clients already begins to form. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 8:00am The Pantry Manager and the Assistant Manager begin to ready the pantry in anticipation of a very busy day. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 8:30am A group of high school seniors arrives for a day of community service and after a quick tour, they start sorting donated food. pg 3 II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 9:00am More than 20 regularly-scheduled volunteers arrive to staff the pantry for the day. Their dedication makes it all possible! With Appreciation to Our Major Donors* Without our many supporters, SOVA would not be able to continue our lifesaving work. On behalf of the thousands of people in our community, we want to thank all our donors for their continued support and commitment. Gifts of $100,000 + Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999 Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999 Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Barbara & Bobby Margolis♦ Anonymous (1) J.B. Berland Foundation Rod, Fabienne, Daniel and Samuel Berman ♦ The Sheri & Les Biller Family Foundation ♦ Eileen & Harold Brown Cannon Family Foundation Patricia & Ira Cohen County of Los Angeles Eric Eisner Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Geraldine Gladstone Foundation Ken & Gerri Gross Indivest, Inc. Karen & Lonnie Kane ♦ John Karubian ♦ Kurtzman Family Foundation Laemmle Theatres Charitable Foundation Mark & Pearle Rae Levey Jeff & Joni Marine ♦ Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art Carol &Thomas F. ONeill♦ Hedy & Ted Orden Shana & Don Passman ♦ Jeanne & Anthony Pritzker Julie & Brad Shames ♦ Linda & Perry S. Silver ♦ Trinka & Howard Soloway Nancy Stark & Stanley Iezman Sherry & Mitch Stein Weingart Foundation ♦ Frederick R. Weisman Philanthropic Foundation Anonymous (2) John & Hilda Arnold Foundation J.B. Berland Foundation Linda & Larry Blumenfeld Adele & Lawrence Braun Center West The Clareman Family ♦ Emily & Rick Corleto ♦ Michelle & Ken Dayan Dr. S. Ian Drew Maureen & Larry Eisenberg E.G.K. Foundation Elisabeth & Robert Fisher Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger Connie Frank Foundation Elaine & David Gill Tova & David Glockner Denise & Andrew Goldfarb Lou & Shirley Gram ♦ Janet & Hayim Hason Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary Jewish Federation Sylvia Weisz Women’s Campaign Jennifer Glazer Malkin Harry & Myra Morewitz Jackie & Stuart Olesker Sandy & Perry Oretzky The Pergo Foundation ♦ Ralphs Community Contributions Program Shomrei Torah Synagogue Mike & Jennifer Singer ♦ Valley Beth Shalom Yeardley Smith Fran & Richard Solomon ♦ Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Dr. Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Venable Foundation, Inc. Wilshire Westwood Plaza Martin F. Witkin Charitable Trust Michael Wolf Adrianne & Robert Zarnegin Anonymous (7) Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999 Angell Foundation The Harold Edelstein Foundation The Emergency Food and Shelter Program The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation The Michael & Irene Ross Endowment Fund Wells Fargo The City of West Hollywood Anonymous (2) Gifts of $25,000 to $49,999 The Ahmanson Foundation Buchalter Family Trust Dermalogica Foundation, Inc. Joyce and Larry Powell Rosenthal Family Foundation The Stern Family: Judi, Bruce, & Jeffrey ♦ Gifts of $10,000 to $24,999 The Joyce and Saul Brandman Foundation ♦ Corie & Michael Koss ♦ Charlene & William Glikbarg Morris A. Hazan Family Foundation Anita Hirsh Julie & Scott Isdaner ♦ Barbara & Tom Leanse Dana and Chuck Maltz The Maurice Marciano Family Foundation ♦ MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Debbie, Rick, Ashley, & Jeremy Powell Donna & Harvey Rosen Saban Family Foundation Joseph Sherwood Jack Sraberg** Suzanne Tracht Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation Anonymous (2) * Gifts received July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010 I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 9:30am SOVA officially opens at 10:00, but hungry clients are already being welcomed, seated, and given registration materials. II ♦ Barbara Margolis Wall of Honor (gifts received July 1, 2009-September 30, 2010) I I I I I I I I I I I I I 10:00am A family of four – first-time SOVA visitors – begins their enrollment interview and program orientation in the Resource Center. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 10:30am The day’s earliest arrivals are already departing with their five-day supply of nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables. pg 4 **Of blessed memory II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11:00am A client explains his restriction to low sodium foods to a SOVA volunteer. His order will be specially selected to meet his needs. I 11 An the inf sig Barbara Margolis Wall of Honor Special thanks to our valued partners who donated fresh food, products, and other transportation services for these valued goods. We couldn’t have done it without you! Barbara and Bobby Margolis have been passionate and committed supporters of SOVA for several years. Barbara has devoted countless hours to SOVA’s hunger relief efforts in a myriad of different ways–as a packing room volunteer, a Baskets of Hope supporter, and as co-chair of SOVA’s Advisory and Resource Development committees. In her honor, her husband Bobby recently set out to create the Margolis Wall of Honor. After 18 months of hard work and dedicated fundraising efforts, Bobby raised more than $500,000 in pledges and donations. With a $500,000 matching gift from Bobby and Barbara, the Wall of Honor Fund has raised more than a million dollars to support SOVA’s hunger relief work. Although the matching gift phase of the Margolis Wall of Honor campaign is now over, the number of people in need of SOVA’s help continues to increase. Donations to the Margolis Wall of Honor campaign will always be gratefully accepted. What does SOVA mean to you? SOVA means coming together– whether you’re the one in need of some help or you’re the one who can give it. SOVA means community. I I I I lly II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11:30am An unemployed worker meets with the on-site vocational counselor for information on job leads. He also signs up for food stamp benefits. II Bagel Brigade Bagel Broker Bea's Bakery Belwood Bakery Bosley Cambridge Farms Canter's Restaurant / Bakery Charles Berney Farms Costco Crown Poly Inc. Delivery Solutions Inc. Encino Farmer's Market Food Forward Gelson's Global Kindness Hoffman Brown Company L.A. Specialty Produce Le Pain Quotidien Northern Produce Panera Bread Pavilions Shugar Soapworks, Inc. Snak King Southwestern Bag Co. Starving Students Trader Joe's Vons Whole Foods Market Worldwide Logistics Every year during the High Holidays, JFS { SOVA collects thousands of pounds of food generously given by you– our devoted community of volunteers and donors. This year we collected more than 85,000 pounds of groceries from local synagogues, schools, and organizations throughout the community. Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School Adat Ari El Adat Chaverim Adat Shalom Ahavat Torah Bayit Shelanu Bernard Milken Campus B'nai Horin Burbank Temple Emanu El Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Congregation Beth Chayim Chadashim Congregation Beth Meier Congregation Beth Shalom Congregation Beth Torah-South Bay Congregation B'nai Emet Congregation Kol Ami Congregation Ner Tamid Congregation N’vay Shalom Congregation Or Ami Congregation Shir Ami Creative Arts Temple Eden Memorial Park Heschel West Hillside Memorial Park & Mortuary I I I I I I I I I I I I I 12:00pm The SOVA trucks return from the food bank with a bounty of fresh and packaged foods to fill the shelves at all three sites. II IKAR Jewish Federation Council of Greater LA Building Kadima Day School Kehillat Ma’arav Leo Baeck Temple Makom Ohr Shalom Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue Milken Community High School Mt. Sinai Memorial Parks & Mortuary Ohr Hatorah Synagogue Santa Monica Synagogue - Shaarei Am Shalom Chapel Shomrei Torah Synagogue Sinai Temple Stephen S. Wise Temple Temple Ahavat Shalom Temple Akiba Temple Aliyah Temple Beth Am Temple Beth El & Center Temple Beth Emet Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock Temple Beth Torah of Granada Hills I I I I I I I I I I I I I 12:30pm After serving more than 75 families, there is a brief pause in the action, allowing the volunteers their first 10-minute break of the day! pg 5 II Temple B’nai Hayim Temple Emanuel Temple Etz Chaim Temple Isaiah Temple Israel of Hollywood Temple Judea Temple Judea West Temple Knesset Israel of Hollywood Temple Menorah Temple Mishkon Tephilo Temple Ore Chadash Temple Ramat Zion Temple Sinai of Glendale UCLA Hillel University Synagogue USC Hillel Valley Beth Israel Valley Beth Shalom Valley Outreach Synagogue Yavneh Hebrew Academy Young Israel of Century City I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I My Bat Mitzvah Project By Rachil Henderson Barlow How has SOVA changed your life? A few months ago, I became a Bat Mitzvah. Part of my preparation for the big day included carrying out a Mitzvah Project–a commitment that recognized my responsibility as a Jew to do mitzvot (good deeds) in the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world). For my Mitzvah Project, I chose to support SOVA Community Food & Resource Program. Growing up, my mom used to bring me and my sisters here while she waited on line for groceries in order for us to be able to eat. Now that I’m older and things are better for my family, I come back–to give back. I volunteer here every month and hope that I am helping to make another person’s life a little easier, just like SOVA did for me when I was little. Named for the Hebrew word that means “eat and be satisfied,”SOVA provides free groceries and social services to individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and religions in the Los Angeles area. In the past, I have donated food to SOVA, and when it came time to pick a Mitzvah Project, I immediately thought of SOVA and helping the hungry in my community. I worked on four different days at the SOVA food pantry in Van Nuys–I sorted donated food, stocked shelves, and packed grocery bags. In total, I donated 18 hours of community service–in Judaism, 18 is a meaningful number, representing the Hebrew word chai, which means life. I also organized a canned food drive and set a goal of collecting 500 cans–I even asked my Bat Mitzvah guests to bring a canned food item with them to my Bat Mitzvah celebration. Lastly, as a meaningful substitute for flower arrangement centerpieces, I chose to use Baskets of Hope–beautifully decorated food baskets–to decorate the synagogue sanctuary for my Bat Mitzvah. I am very proud of the work I did for my Mitzvah Project, and will continue to support SOVA in any way I can. THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER IS REAL. THE SOLUTION IS VIRTUAL. Shop JFS { SOVA’s Virtual Food Drive Online! Select from among the items shown online and enter the quantities you wish to add to your cart! Your contribution will allow SOVA to leverage our buying power. A few clicks go a long way. www.jfsla.org/SOVA/vfd I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1:00pm The Resource Center finishes enrolling its 23rd new family of the day. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1:30pm The last client of the day is greeted. While she awaits her groceries, her children select books from the SOVA Book Corner to take home too. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 2:00pm A father & son arrive to donate items to SOVA, bringing with them four crates of fresh oranges and a $500 check from the son’s Bar Mitzvah. pg 6 II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 2:30pm What a day! More than 300 people received groceries today. And that’s just at this one site! I 3: The rou of fro Gifts come in many forms. You can make a difference. All donations, large or modest, are greatly appreciated. Due to our special relationships with food suppliers, for every $1 you donate, SOVA can purchase $5 worth of groceries. Three Easy Ways to Donate: Thousands of people need our help. But we can’t do it without you. 1. Online: Log on to www.jfsla.org/SOVA/Donate. 2. By phone: Please contact Diane Linder at (818) 988-7682 (extension #110) JFS { SOVA strives to address the growing problem of hunger in Los Angeles by providing a wide array of programs and services for the community. Our groceries and supportive services for families and individuals in need are always free of charge, easily accessible, and are offered in a way that respects and preserves our clients’ dignity. 3. By mail: Donations can be mailed to: JFS { SOVA Community Food & Resource Program 16439 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys CA 91406 Food Donations The greatest challenge facing SOVA is responding to the evergrowing need for our services. We need your help to meet the challenge. SOVA depends on food donations for the largest share of our overall food supply. We gratefully accept donations at any of our three pantry locations, and are most frequently in need of canned meat, tuna, and peanut butter. For more information, please contact Maxine Meyer at (818) 988-7682 (extension #116) or [email protected]. Personalized Tribute Cards Sending a tribute card with your personalized message is a wonderful way to let someone know you’re thinking about them while supporting hunger relief in the community. To order a tribute card, please contact Diane Linder at (818) 988-7682 (extension #110) or [email protected]. Baskets of Hope You’re looking at the safety net for the middle class disappearing. Baskets of Hope are beautiful centerpieces filled with food designed to enhance tables at family celebrations and community events. All proceeds benefit the JFS { SOVA Community Food & Resource Program. For more information about Baskets of Hope, please contact Maxine Meyer at (818) 988-7682 (extension #116) or [email protected]. –a SOVA volunteer, interviewed recently by Steve Lopez for the L.A. Times. Log on to www.jfsla.org for the full article. Volunteer Opportunities SOVA relies on a team of dedicated volunteers to help us meet our mission of alleviating hunger in our community. To learn more about hands-on volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, please contact Felice Resnick at (818) 988-7682 (extension #118) or [email protected]. We welcome gifts of stock, bonds, or other major gifts For more information, please contact Carol Bar-Or at (213) 260-7922 or [email protected]. I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3:00pm The trucks return from their second routes of the day, filled with hundreds of pounds of assorted foods donated from local markets. II I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3:30pm II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 4:00pm Volunteers finish assembling and decorating a dozen Baskets of Hope and help ready them for delivery tomorrow. The pantry is clean. The shelves are restocked. The building is quiet. Everything is ready to begin the whole process again tomorrow! inside back cover - pg 7 Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles SOVA Community Food & Resource Program www.jfsla.org/sova (818) 988-7682 [email protected] Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 298 Sta Clarita, CA 16439 Vanowen Street Van Nuys, CA 91406 Rick Powell & Barbara Weiser Margolis, Committee Co-Chairs, JFS { SOVA SOVA Advisory Committee: Zucky Altman Ann Cutrow Monique Gibbons Dorothy Goren Les Hawkins Joyce Leanse Kimberly LeaVesseur Connie Lembark Mark Levey David Levine Wendy Ordower Shana Passman Larry Powell Elyse Salend David Soloway Trinka Soloway Mitch Stein Steve Ullman Ella Zarky SOVA Resource & Development Committee: Bear Barnes Laurie Bernhard Eileen Brown Ira Cohen Nancy Eisenstadt Rusty Feldman Leslie Friedman Ken Gross Priscilla Halper Susan Lebow Shana Passman Larry Powell Sheila Spiwak Mitch Stein Baskets of Hope Centerpieces That Make A Difference! Fred Summers, JFS { SOVA Director of Operations 140,000 Carol Bar-Or, JFS { SOVA Senior Campaign Manager 120,000 David O. Levine, President, JFS Paul S. Castro, Executive Director/CEO, JFS 100,000 Susie Forer-Dehrey, COO, JFS Vivian Sauer, Associate Executive Director, JFS 80,000 Suzy Jones Bookbinder, Director of Resource Development, JFS JFS Communications: Jennifer Levitt, Director of Communications Jordan Silverman, Communications Associate Melody Vargas, Communications Coordinator SOVA WEST: 8846 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 SOVA METRO: 1140 N.La Brea Ave., W. Hollywood, CA 90038 SOVA VALLEY: 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91406 SOVA is a program of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, a nonsectarian agency. JFS receives funding from The Jewish Federation and United Way. Have an event coming up? Hosting a special luncheon or dinner party? Want to add something unique AND meaningful to your celebration? 60,000 Baskets of Hope are beautiful centerpieces designed and constructed by SOVA volunteers to enhance tables at family and community events, while helping to alleviate hunger and poverty in our community. 40,000 Baskets are customized to match your party decor, feature a card explaining the significance of the centerpiece, and best of all, your donation for the use of the baskets is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Contact Maxine Meyer at [email protected] or (818) 988-7682, extension #116. back cover - pg 8 20,000