Looking Back on our Covid-19 Response

We raced against the clock and mapped out a plan to ensure the continuation of our indispensable services. We heard the cries of so many community members who were (and still are) facing new and unpredictable adversities. The one constant in Jewish Baltimore was us – as a community – as donors – as The Associated. 

We leveraged our 100-year history of responding to crises in Baltimore and across the globe. We helped the unemployed, supported those dealing with grief, anxiety and other mental health issues, distributed food to ensure that no one went hungry and we eased the pain of isolation. Look at how much we have accomplished in less than a year.

 

General

  • The community helpline established at the start of this crisis and managed by Jewish Community Services has responded to more than 6,700 COVID-related calls.

 

Financial Assistance

  • 26% of Jewish community members have reported that their financial situation has worsened.
  • Jewish Community Services has seen a 115% increase in calls for financial assistance.
  • The number of households needing emergency food and financial assistance continues to steadily rise and is expected to increase by 53% in the coming year.
  • Trends show that there is a potential 48% increase in total Career Center clients.
Woman at desk with baby

 

Domestic Violence

Woman looking out for hope
  • Since the pandemic began, CHANA has seen a 131% increase in client contacts compared to this time last year.
  • CHANA provided twice the number of nights of shelter for victims of abuse in comparison to last year – an increase of 100%.
  • Requests for mental health services increased 120% to date across our community. Some of that, in part, was based on the increase in social isolation, particularly among our older adults.
  • Through more than 12,300 telehealth therapy sessions, JCS has provided therapy and psychiatric services.  
  • JCS’ virtual support groups have engaged more than 1,200 participants, addressing such topics as such topics as reducing stress and anxiety, talking with children about Coronavirus, caregiving, work-from-home challenges and coping with furloughs or lay-offs.

 

Food Insecurity

  • Since the pandemic began, CHAI, the Pearlstone Emergency Food Response, Jewish Volunteer Connection and Jewish Community Services provided more than 98,000 meals to youth, families and older adults facing food insecurity.
Woman dropping food off to neighbor

 

Older Adults

Older adult painting at Myerberg
  • More than 11,000 check-in calls have been made to isolated older adults.
  • The Myerberg Center has held approximately 1,000 live programs for older adults since the pandemic began.

 

Special Needs

  • SHEMESH has provided remote learning sessions to nearly 100% of its students with special needs.
  • CJE saw a 50% increase in families seeking IEP assistance in general, and approximately four times as many families asking for help related to public school systems not doing testing over the last year.
  • Attendance tripled at SHEMESH’s CHADD Parent Support Group, which addresses topics such as ADHD and executive function.

 

What’s Next

But our work is not done… looking forward, there is much that needs to be accomplished. We must ensure that Jewish Baltimore gets back on its feet.

We will continue to address the enormous needs of those who are struggling and adapt to this rapidly changing world with solutions that will help our community move forward.

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