It began on March 5 when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Maryland. On March 16, schools closed, as did public spaces. On March 23, all nonessential businesses shut their doors. 

When schools closed and students went remote, teachers and students struggled with the new learning platform, and those with learning difficulties became increasingly at risk. CJE and SHEMESH reworked their programming to address these concerns.  

• CJE helped over 800 day, congregational and early childhood educators transition to online learning.  

When schools closed and students went remote, teachers and students struggled with the new learning platform, and those with learning difficulties became increasingly at risk. CJE and SHEMESH reworked their programming to address these concerns.  

• CJE helped over 800 day, congregational and early childhood educators transition to online learning.  

This is the story of the past year.  

We Addressed Social Isolation and Mental Health 

• Jewish Community Services provided more than 12,300 telehealth therapy sessions.  
• CHAI made approximately 4,000 friendly check-in calls to older adults living in its neighborhoods or living in its Weinberg buildings, ensuring they were staying healthy, while providing support and conversation.  
• The Myerberg Tech-Knowledge Hub saw a 50% increase in the number of participants over the past year. During this period, the Tech-Knowledge Hub helped older adults navigate the new technology needed to communicate with family and friends… even showed them how to purchase groceries online and make doctor’s appointments.  
• The JCC, Pearlstone, Myerberg, the Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE) and the Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM) provided thousands of hours of virtual programming that spanned the gamut from fitness to arts and culture to Jewish history. 

We Tackled Food Insecurity  

• CHAI provided boxes of food and fresh produce to older adults and people in need.  
• Through Jewish Volunteer Connection’s (JVC) Bunches of Lunches, Soup Kits and Casserole Challenge, held in partnership with schools, congregations and community organizations, the community provided meals for people in need.

We Helped Victims of Abuse and Trauma   

The Associated Provided Financial Support  

The Associated Supported Education and Learning

• CJE also 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. Through CJE’s MDSnap program, the only free educational advocacy service in Maryland, they helped these families.  
• SHEMESH immediately pivoted to remote support, providing remote learning sessions to close to 100% of its students with learning difficulties. Attendance tripled at its CHADD Parent Support Group, which addresses topics such as ADHD and executive function.