‘We’ve never been needed more’
PRESENTING JEWISH Care’s Rosh Hashanah appeal, chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown says: “The community has never needed us more.”
The charity reports that “with the help of our incredible volunteers”, it has delivered more than 70,000 meals during the pandemic and made a similar number of befriending calls to older, isolated community members.
Its social work and family carers’ teams have supported 1,300 older people and it has also hosted a programme of online events.
Among those featured in the appeal is Violet Cohen, who worked until she was 82 and only recently gave up driving at the age of 89.
Living on her own since the death of her husband, with the support of family and friends, her situation changed after lockdown. Unable to leave her house after being told to shield, she felt alone for the first time in her life.
Jewish Care’s digital team set up a computer for her and helped her to get online. She was able to join Zoom discussion groups where she could see and speak to her friends, participate in poetry readings and exercise classes and — her favourite — learn more about the history of art.
“I was so pleased to see all my friends I missed from the centre [I attended] when it had to close,” she said. “But also I’ve made great new friends and we all say we can’t wait to meet each other in person when the centre reopens.”
Jewish Care is gradually reopening its community centres but will continue
There is no substitute for the comfort inperson activity can offer’
its online programme.
“So many of our members have shown incredible resilience over the last year,” Mr Carmel-Brown said.
“We have missed them dearly and are very happy to be able to see them again in person as we approach the New Year. There has been a huge uptake in our digital events. But for some, this has been no substitute for the company and comfort that in-person activity can offer.”