Join The Circle

2010 Annual Report 

 

 

$10,785 Disbursed For Short Term Emergency Funding
 

The Details:
Offering individuals or families short term emergency funds to help with anything from rent, hotel room, gas, money to pay bills, transportation or food

 

 

 

 

$9,906 Disbursed From Scholarship Funds
 

The Details:
Families in need receive scholarship funds towards Hebrew school tuition , day camp or life cycle events like bar or bat mitzvah.

A Story:
Cindy lost her husband and her job, she is struggling to raise her 3 children, her parents are not well and are not able to help. The family needs help, financial and emotional support. When they contacted CJC the children were given a full scholarship for Hebrew School and all other services and they were also referred to CJC’s mental health network that gave them free counseling services and connected them to other agencies.

Today they are doing much better thanks to the Circle. This Chanukah The Circle provided many families in similar situations with gifts and financial support to lift their spirits during this Chanukah season.

In Kind Gifts:
Many families receive furniture, clothing, toys, automobiles etc.

283 Hours of Counseling
 

The Details:
Topics covered this year: dealing with, depression, job loss, motivation at work, domestic disputes, parenting issues, death, illness, abusive parents, relationship issues, difficult pregnancy, loneliness, spiritual crisis, faith and job search.

 

 19 Crisis Interventions
 

The Details:
Crisis intervention for individuals or families suffering from interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, loss, domestic abuse, suicide and other crisis.
A team of rabbi’s, social workers and professional resources are made available to those in need.

 

217 Comfort Meals Provided
 

The Details:
Providing meals and comfort to people suffering or recovering from; illness, childbirth, loss of a loved one or surgery.

103 Hospital Visitations
 

The Details:
Rabbinical visits, visits from social workers and community volunteers. Ensuring that every who request for a hospital visit is filled.

A Story:
Leo was admitted to the hospital after suffering a terrible fall at the nursing home he was rehabbing in. The family needed a rabbi to help them with decisions and comfort. Having not been members in a synagogue for years they called Chabad. Rabbi Marcus answered the call and spent hours with the family. Stayed with the family through his passing. Helped with the funeral arrangements, brought them food and made sure the family had the support and love during this most difficult time.

76 Seniors Visited
 

The Details:
Seniors receive visits by the Rabbi or a professional social worker or a community volunteer

A Story:
A Visit with Nellie
Nellie is an aging woman who lived a good life but has been encountering some medical difficulties lately. Recently she fell and broke her hip and while going through rehab gave up on life. She had had enough pain and suffering and she was ready to throw in the towel. Her family and friends were frantic. Nellie is a very vibrant and loving person, has many friends and is adored by them all, they were all very disturbed by her statements and her demeanor.

One of her friends knew of The Circle and called CJC to see if someone could come and talk to her and lift her spirits and renew in her a will to live. Rabbi Marcus answered the call and went for a visit. Nellie was very sad and quite depressed. Rabbi Marcus reminisced with her about her earlier life and about her wonderful family and friends, he prayed with her and sang songs that lifted her spirit. The cloud was beginning to lift and before he left she promised that she would come and pay a visit to the Synagogue when she got better. It was truly miraculous.

A few months ago she attended High Holiday services at CJC walking on her own with the help of a walker with the biggest smile on her face. What a blessing to be a part of her miracle.

51 Professional Referrals
 

The Details:
Currently CJC’s Professional Referral Group consists of attorneys, therapists, social workers, doctors, health care professionals, assisted living facilities, chaplaincy and counselors that have partnered with The Circle and offer their services for free or at a deeply discounted rate.

A Story:
Jack’s business was doing really good until he discovered that his partner had taken serious advantage of him and had basically bankrupted the business. Now penniless Jack needed help to get back on his feet and needed legal representation to recoup his loses. In desperation he approached CJC and asked for help.

The Circle’s short term emergency fund was able to help with some basic needs and The Circle’s professional referral group was tapped to find an attorney who could represent Jack with little or no compensation. The Circle found the right match and Jack was able to successfully litigate a settlement that was in his favor and Jack can now go on with rebuilding his life and his business.

22 Substance Abuse Prevention and Support

The Details:
Hebrew AA meetings and JACS meetings as well as a network of experienced professionals, counselors and lay people create a helpful network for those families dealing with substance abuse. The Circle has been able to assist many individuals and families deal with this very difficult disease.
 

A Story:

Mark lives in South Orange county somewhat involved in the Jewish community, sent his son to Hebrew School and attends high holiday services. Mark also suffers from a bad knee and was taking medication for pain relief, slowly over time Mark became addicted to the drugs and was in denial.
 

 

Things got so bad that recently when he was working he fell down the steps and only through a miracle did he survive the accident. It shook him up and helped him realize that he had a problem. But he was at a total loss, what should he do, where should he go? He picked up the phone and called CJC in a panic. As a result of his addiction he drained all of his finances and his family had fallen apart. He needed help and he needed it right away.
 

 

Through The Circle’s network of professionals Rabbi Marcus was able to find him a detox center and get him admitted. Rabbi Marcus remained in contact with him during his stay and through The Circle’s short term emergency fund gave him some much needed cash for his most basic necessities helping him on his road to full recovery.