As time runs out, Catch-22 budget shortfall looms

As the recession continues and the jobless rate climbs, Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties are seeing more local Jews seeking assistance, including a segment of the community not affected in any great number before — the middle aged.

“They used to have jobs, used to have savings, used to be able to handle debt. Now some have lost their houses and are homeless,” said Dorothy Chambers, director of Jewish family service programming, at Gulf Coast JFS, a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties.

Chambers’ department is the strictly Jewish component of the overall corporation, legally “Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc.”, but with its non-sectarian programs known as Gulf Coast Community Care.

The “strictly Jewish” component is the only part of Gulf Coast that receives funds from the Federation’s Annual Campaign (now in its final month).

Jews and non-Jews alike, though, benefit

through Gulf Coast Community Care programs, funded by government grants, allocations from other nonprofits and foundation and donations.

These middle-aged Jewish community members, most previously living a middle class lifestyle, have presented an unusual situation for Gulf Coast JFS. “These are (Jewish community members) who have never asked for assistance before. In many cases they don’t even know how,” Chambers said. “And, unfortunately, we know in some cases they are too proud to ask.”

Like in the secular community, there also has been an increase in the number of other Jewish community members — the lower income elderly, handicapped, or disadvantaged whose pensions, disability or Social Security don’t go far enough to cover basic needs— seeking help whether for emergencies, food, or counseling.

According to Gulf Coast JFS, in hard times, as stress levels increase, the ability to cope declines. The result is more family problems for all ages in all areas, including mental or physical abuse, parent-child relationships, and depression.

Requests for food or emergency help exemplify the problem.

The Federation underwrites a Koved (emergency) fund, administered by Gulf Coast JFS, to help handle such needs. “In the last six months, 246 members of the Jewish community have needed assistance from the Koved Fund,” Chambers said. An indicator of the surge in requests is evident in that Gulf Coast’s budget estimate for the entire year is 300 requests.

Gulf Coast JFS records show that 95 of the 246 emergency requests were for help with rent, keeping the electricity on or for assistance to delay eviction.

The majority, 151 requests, were for food certificates or emergency gas cards (for uses such as getting to work, to look for work, or appointments).

The surge is also evident in the Food Bank, including the kosher food pantry, which Gulf Coast operates.

In the last six months, there have been 308 requests for food to supplement what community members can supply themselves. The budget target for the year is 550 requests.

Chambers said group or corporate donations of food, or gas cards, would be especially helpful now due to increased need. That need is compounded by the fact many grants and non-profit allocations to Gulf Coast have been reduced.

That includes the allocation to Gulf Coast from the Federation, which had to reduce virtually all its allocations last year when the campaign fell short of the previous year’s total.

And, that’s why beneficiary agencies, such as the JCC Suncoast and Gulf Coast, as well as Federation and Campaign leadership are urging community members to donate as much as they can to the Annual Campaign this year so allocations can be maintained either at last year’s reduced rate or, even go back to the 2008 funding level.

It’s the proverbial Catch-22: More people in need, but many donors’ ability to give reduced at the same time.

Chambers was among the volunteers making calls during the Federation’s recent Super Sunday phone-athon. “So many people who had donated before just couldn’t this year.”

Federation President Joan Benstock

“In these times we are especially grateful for every donation so far. We know in many cases donors had to stretch to give what they did, but they did it for the good of the community and for those less fortunate,” Federation President Joan Benstock stressed. “We are still short $150,000 from matching last year’s Campaign. To those who have not yet given this year and those who have never given, the time to give is now.”

At issue, Benstock said, is not only the increased emergency needs caused by the down economy, but also the Federation system’s ability to continue to help fund the social service, humanitarian, and continuity programs that were needed before and now more than ever locally, across North America, in Israel and elsewhere in the world where Jews are in need or at risk.

Campaign Chair Sheldon Scheinert

Likewise, Federation Campaign Chair Sheldon Scheinert addressed the community:

“As the Federation campaign draws to a close, we remain short — short of last year’s contributions, short of our diminished hopes for this year’s contributions. I think all that can be said, has been said. Everyone knows the reasons why they need to help. So I’m not going to reiterate them yet again.”

Speaking to each community member directly, Scheinert said, “I will only ask that you do your best to give your support to your community, to your people. Bind with them, connect with them, and strengthen them, for their sake, for the sake of Judaism and its institutions, and for your own sake, as part of that community. Don’t look for others to do this for you. There is no one else.”

April 27 deadline to pledge

The Federation’s Budget & Allocations Committee meets April 27 to come up with its recommendations on how the Federation should allocate whatever amount has been pledged to this year’s Campaign at that point. Any new pledges or gifts after April 27 will count toward next year’s Annual Campaign and allocations.

Payments on pledges are allowed up to Dec. 31.

For more information, to pledge or to donate, call the Federation at (727) 530-3233, or go online to www. jewishpinellas.com.