A grant will allow Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties to continue providing help to Holocaust survivors.
There are a dozen survivors in Atlantic County who rely on assistance and support that includes care coordination, grocery pick-up and delivery, transportation to appointments, help with Claims Conference paperwork and socialization programs.
JFS received a grant last month from the Joseph Gringlas KAVOD SHEF National Fund to assure the emergency needs of survivors could continue to be met.
The donation will be matched up to $9,000 by KAVOD SHEF, in partnership with Seed the Dream Foundation, a coalition that assists Holocaust survivors nationwide.
KAVOD SHEF leverages funds through a special philanthropic national matching initiative to ensure much-needed revenue is available for the Survivor community.
“As needs continue and evolve for Holocaust Survivors, JFS staff and volunteers are honored to work cohesively to assure they have financial and emotional support to live safe, healthy, and dignified lives. JFS’ unwavering commitment to assist Holocaust Survivors in any manner is paramount,” JFS Chief Executive Officer Andrea Steinberg said.
The KAVOD SHEF National Fund is named in memory of Joseph Gringlas, a survivor of the Blizyn, Auschwitz, and Dora-Nordhausen concentration camp.
Gringlas was an educator, artist, tv repairman and mender of all things broken. He touched the lives of countless people who were moved by his kindness and optimism, his ability to see beauty despite witnessing the worst in humanity, and willingness to share his story of survival to ensure lessons of the Holocaust would never be forgotten.
“The issue is not going away and is not dwindling. Our Survivors are getting older and are having greater financial stress. We only have a few years left with these courageous individuals, and we feel it is our responsibility to take care of them and offer them peace in their final years. They have been through enough, and as a human community, we are responsible. This is our last chance to help our Survivors—those still with us—to live out their lives in dignity,” said Amy Israel Pregulman, executive director and co-founder of KAVOD.
To learn more about KAVOD SHEF, see their website or contact the national KAVOD SHEF hotline at 720-295-8484.
