With the economy’s peaks and valleys over the past several years, it’s easy for many in the Jewish community to tune out the economic news. But not for the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. In fact, demand for its Chesed Fund is as high as it has ever been since the assistance fund was created in 2007.
“It is imperative we continue to ask for help, as more and more people in our community need our assistance,” said Shari Stimetz, assistant director of the Jewish Federation. “The amount of money we’re dispersing every month is beyond belief. At this rate, we will need more than $300,000 for assistance by the end of 2013, and this is for people who have nowhere else to turn.”
The Federation’s Chesed Fund helps Jewish residents living in the five counties of Greater Kansas City address chronic financial challenges. These are situations that typically involve extended job loss and medical issues that can’t be helped with one-time emergency assistance.
“All Chesed Fund recipients start out at Jewish Family Services,” said Stimetz. “Once the intake process is completed, the case managers at JFS determine whether or not an individual or family meets the criteria for assistance. Sadly, with the economic problems that have faced our country in the past few years, more and more JFS clients are meeting the Chesed Fund criteria.
“In the first few months of 2013, we have already distributed more than half of what we distributed in all of 2012, and we are facing serious shortages for the fund,” continued Stimetz, who noted $300,000 was distributed by the fund last year.
Chesed Fund is surprisingly spread among a variety of individuals and families — all facing unique issues. The money helps everyone from seniors on a small fixed income to people who cannot work because of chronic illness, to single parents who are not receiving the child support they were awarded upon divorce.
Kansas City is fortunate that the Federation has been able to help area Jews in need to the extent that it has.
“The Federation established the Chesed Fund in 2007 because even then we saw a rising need among people with chronic financial challenges,” Stimetz said.
Chesed Fund also has donors who, as Stimetz puts it, “care about people in need — especially Jewish people right here in our own community continued and understand why it’s critical at this time to give above and beyond their annual gift.
Stimetz encourages others to join the ranks of Chesed’s donors.
“Helping people and saving lives is the highest value in the Jewish tradition,” she said. “And that’s what these funds are doing. Saving lives. Literally!”
To make an online donation to the Chesed Fund, go to jewishkansascity.org/givedignity2013. To make a donation by phone, contact Gail Weinberg, director of financial resource development, 913-327-8123. Or send in a check to Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, 5801 W. 115 Street, Suite 201, Overland Park, KS 66211, Attn: Chesed Fund 2013.
One hundred percent of donations will go to Chesed Fund.
