On January 27th, 2021 we celebrated International Holocaust Remembrance Day by reflecting on the liberation of the German concentration camp Auschwitz seventy-six years later. We are proud to share that Tampa’s own Gulf Coast JFCS continues to #ElevateTampa by providing a variety of services to survivors of the Holocaust. The Holocaust Survivor Program helps to improve the quality of life for Holocaust survivors in seven counties of the greater Tampa Bay area by providing critically needed in-home care, emergency financial assistance, case management services, prescription drug and medical assistance funds, transportation, social events, and other essential services to prevent out-of-home placement.
Among these services, Gulf Coast JFCS provides additional support unique to Holocaust survivors such as restitution applications and compensation, to ensure that survivors receive all restitution available based on their persecution history. As 30% of survivors live in poverty, financial assistance helps with home emergencies such as eviction or utility shut-off, to critical medical, dental and prescription services. In-Home care can range from assistance with errands and doctor appointments, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and personal care such as bathing and dressing. Two case managers are bi-lingual in Russian to help support the many survivors from the former Soviet Union. Prior to the COVID pandemic, social events such as monthly Chavurahs and holiday lunches were a highlight for survivors in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and North Port. Since last March, this has been replaced with Zoom concerts, and other social activities online. In conjunction with JFCS of the Suncoast in Sarasota, and a grant from Jewish Federations of North America, we are implementing a new technology, Uniper, to connect survivors with each other, social and wellness activities, available via an interactive device on their TV. Friendly visitors and callers connect survivors with a social friend to reduce isolation and increase social connection.
Social services for Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Recently, Senior Community Services, a program under Pinellas Community Foundation, gave Gulf Coast JFCS a grant to support additional homecare for Holocaust survivors. Additional program support from Florida Department of Financial Services, and various foundations and individual donations. We are extremely proud of Gulf Coast JFCS and their efforts dedicated to #HelpingOurCity
For more information about Gulf Coast JFCS, visit their website: https://gulfcoastjewishfamilyandcommunityservices.org/
