Loneliness was declared a public health epidemic in 2023 by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. A 2024 American Psychiatric Association poll found that 30% of adults reported having experienced feelings of loneliness at least
once a week during the past year. Ten percent said they feel lonely every day.
The array of programs and services we offer at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-profit agencies in Westchester, range from mental health, trauma, and disabilities to senior care, early childhood development, educational enrichment, LGBTQ+, caregiver support, Jewish educational, spiritual, and cultural enrichment, and much more. What do all of our programs have in common, in addition to the skilled compassionate care we offer? They ensure that no one who is suffering from significant life challenges feels alone.
For many people, the holidays are an especially stressful time. Some don’t have family with whom to celebrate. Others experience the loss of loved ones particularly acutely when they think of past gatherings with relatives and friends. That’s why we feel it is so important to support, comfort, and bring people together to enjoy the holidays.
To celebrate Thanksgiving, in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York-Westchester, we delivered floral arrangements to Holocaust survivors in our Share Shabbat program. Just a month before we hosted a Sukkot Holiday Luncheon for Holocaust survivors, in partnership with UJA, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, and Westchester Reform Temple. We were thrilled to have dozens of survivors, caregivers, and New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer attend the joyous, music-filled celebration.
To cherish the light of Hanukkah, members of Chai House, a WJCS group home, will enjoy candle lighting, storytelling, and games. Residents of our other WJCS group homes are invited to attend the Chai House holiday dinner with traditional Hanukkah foods and songs. The women of Chai House will also be making cards to send to Israeli soldiers wishing them a Happy Hanukkah.
Shelanu, a membership community for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, celebrated Thanksgiving at its sumptuous annual dinner and celebrated the December holidays with a party, mitzvah project, and clothing drive.
Members of our WJCS Holocaust Survivor Programs attended a book talk with latkes and sufganiyot (doughnuts) at Westchester Reform Temple. Susan Weissbach Friedman, the author of Klara’s Truth, led a discussion about the book and donated copies to attendees.
The WJCS NNORC (Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) in northeast Yonkers, which provides programs, services, and resources to help seniors age in place safely, made holiday cards at Crestwood Library.
Each year, WJCS organizes the Have a Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive. We are so thankful to the many generous donors who contribute new toys, games, books, and gift cards that we then distribute to hundreds of families in under-resourced communities in Westchester. For many parents, this is the only holiday gift they are able to give to their children.
There is tremendous power in being together and supporting each other. At WJCS, we believe that caring, community, and connection strengthen us all. We are so grateful to our donors who ensure that WJCS is here for the Westchester community when we are needed most.
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