Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

This year, as in the previous 44 years, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando is proud to have worked together with the community to make an impact on the lives of those in need, especially as hardships continue to grow. From fighting hunger and homelessness to addressing mental health needs JFS Orlando is always there if you need help or if you want to help.

As you prepare for the countdown to 2023, join us in counting down the ways JFS Orlando has made an impact in the community this year so far and how your 2022 year-end gift can still make a difference.

10: Pearlman Food Pantry fought hunger by supplying food for more than 170,000 meals, and continued partnerships with local grocers, including Publix Super Markets and Sprouts Farmers Market.

9: RIDE (Reliable Independent Drivers for the Elderly) Program addressed the gap in senior transportation needs in our community by arranging over 700 rides for low-income seniors and disabled adults, to get to medical appointments and other essential visits.

8: Counseling services continued partnerships with Central Florida Hillel and Social Bridges to better meet the mental health needs of local students and equip them with the wellness habits they need to thrive.

7: JFS Community Rabbi cared for the rising need for spiritual services by serving close to 1,800 individuals and has continued to be available, especially during unexpected illness and death.

6: Kobrin Family Scholarship selected a new 2022 award recipient and continued supporting a total of four UCF students with $10,000 in scholarship money to help defray the cost of college tuition for students and their families.

5: Counseling therapists provided accessible and affordable therapy, about 5,000 sessions, including crisis counseling for local Jewish partners emotionally impacted by the fatal shooting earlier this year at a conference in South Florida.

4: Family Stabilization Program strengthened over 100 households through case management and by teaching critical skills and tools to avoid homelessness and achieve long-term stability.

3: Community support for JFS continued to grow, with both of their major fundraising campaigns topping last year’s totals, with their Hope Challenge anchored by a gift from the David & Audrey Pearlman Philanthropic Fund and the Pearlman, Minkow, & Bolton families raising $88,000, and their Restock & Rebuild Challenge led by The Weiner Family & The Winter Park Wealth Group, raising $63,000, nearly DOUBLE that of 2021!

2: JFS led a collaborative effort and mobilized the community to provide humanitarian assistance and house several Ukrainian refugee families in our Central Florida community, with partners at Shalom Orlando, CRJ, and generous community donors and volunteers.

1: Pearlman Food Pantry was expanded with nearly double the space, a state-of-the-art carton flow shelving system, and a new big 3-door fridge, all to keep up with increasing demand for food assistance and provide more fresh, healthy food quickly and efficiently to those in need.

Much was accomplished in 2022, but with increasing costs and hardships, the need for JFS Orlando’s family of services continues to grow into 2023. Help make an impact in the lives of those in need in our Central Florida community. There is still time to donate to JFS Orlando and make an impact this year by donating at JFSorlando.org/eoy.

From Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando and the thousands they serve every year, thank you and Happy New Year!