A letter from Cathy Barker, JFS Dallas President & CEO, and Eric Goldberg, JFS Board Chair
Dear Dallas Community,
As many Israelis find themselves in unimaginably difficult situations, dozens of families, especially those with young children, have relocated to our Dallas community in recent days. While many are fortunate enough to have support from family or friends, the challenges they face remain significant.
Some of their immediate needs include financial assistance for essentials like rental cars and additional housewares to make their temporary homes more comfortable. As the cold weather sets in, they are preparing for a Dallas winter which can be quite different from what they are used to. Those who are displaced not only incur the costs of setting up a temporary life here, but also continue to pay for their housing, car payments, and other monthly expenses back in Israel.
As always, Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas stands ready as an open door to all in need.
For those directly affected by this challenging situation, we offer a range of services to address their individual needs. Our team of dedicated professionals is here to provide case management and referrals, mental health counseling for all ages, and emergency financial assistance. Our Food Pantry is stocked with kosher food items, ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious foods at no cost. As the situation continues to unfold, JFS is also equipped to offer employment services, support groups, and older adult services to address the long-term effects and, if needed, ensure a comfortable transition into the Dallas community.
Each family has unique needs and those needs are not one-size-fits-all. To ensure that JFS can most effectively assist families, we request that community members consider donating funds. This helps each family acquire exactly what they need to make their time in Dallas more comfortable and secure.
Your generosity makes all the difference to families who find themselves far from home and in need of a helping hand. Your donation will go directly to an emergency fund set up to address the specific resources required for each family in Dallas that comes to JFS for help.
If you are looking to send support directly to Israel, we encourage you to give through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas’ Emergency Campaign for Israel at www.jewishdallas.org/crisis.
If you know a family in need, please encourage them to call our main line at 972-437-9950 and leave a message with our Intake team indicating they are a family from Israel in need of assistance.
We thank you for all of your efforts and generosity to help these families. Our Dallas community has shown up time and time again for neighbors in need, and I know this time, as it hits closer to our hearts than ever, we will not hesitate to support our family and friends who are coming to us for help.
Cathy Barker,
President & CEO
Eric Goldberg,
Board Chair