SAVOR SUMMER: SHOP, DINE & EXPLORE PAGE 22 theconnectionsnj.com Flip Flop Finders How it works: Attach our waterproof tracker to your flip flops Connect to the Flip Flop Finders app Locate your flip flops in seconds! Perfect for: Family Outings Group Beach Trips Festivals & Boardwalk Fun Never Lose a Step at the Beach Again DD o ig n . ’t JF ui nsdt. www.flipflopfinders.com chose to donate my last Bug and Bus, it wasn’t a casual decision. It was personalbecause the cause was personal. Personal because my mother, father and their parents were Holocaust survivors hoping to escape, survive and thrive via a new lease on life in the US. After immigrating to Cincinnati, Ohio, their hopes were to settle into a new land, build a family, enjoy and age in place in their own home. This all required more than hope; it required real support, care, coordination, and resources to Enter Jewish Family Service. JFS was there and remains there for my family and hundreds of families like mine. eeing my two Volkswagens, a convertible Bug and a Bus, shining in my garage and driveway was something I took great pride in. They had become things I no longer drove every day; they were things I preserved. Restored carefully over time, they represented patience, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for history. They were part of a collection I had poured years into and never imagined parting with. They were the last two in a line of collected VWs, going back to my grade school days when one of my favorite teachers introduced me to her red Beetle. Then, my Sephardic (Jews of Spanish heritage, in our case, Greece) father surprised us with a shiny new red Beetle, and my Ashkenazic (Eastern European Jewish, in our case, Germany) grandmother almost “had a cow!” Between that first Beetle to the last Bug and Bus I owned, there were four other VWs at one time in the collection. So, when I deal with life’s challenges. These challenges would have been overwhelming for any family. Enter Jewish Family Service (JFS). JFS was there and remains there for my family and hundreds of families like mine. They understand more than just aging; the team at JFS understands the unique needs of Holocaust survivors and other vulnerable individuals. They help people like my parents settle and remain in the home they fought so hard to build by providing care, stability, and peace of mind. When I looked for a meaningful way to give back, I kept coming back to my VWs. They weren’t just collectibles-they were pieces of history for me and articles of value that could be transformed into real impact. Through the JFS car donation program, those vintage vehicles were converted into funding that directly supports families like mine. The proceeds help provide home care, transportation, and essential services, making it possible for others to age in place with the same dignity my parents were given. I don’t see my VWs as something I lost, although there was a tear or two in my eye as I watched them being pulled away. I see the donation of my VWs as paying it forward. As someone who was raised by Holocaust Survivors who were helped by JFS, the opportunity to donate cars that originated during the time of Hitler’s Nazi Germany is truly a full circle. The funds received through this donation were used to provide support for people whose stories deserve to be honored. The process for donating couldn’t have been easier, with one phone call or click of a button, a seamless pick-up is scheduled. If you have a vehicle or property you are considering donating, call 877-JFS-4-CAR or visit jewishfamilysvc.org/donate--vehicle-donation.php. This tax-deductible donation will make a lasting impact. Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties is a nonprofit social service agency working to improve the overall quality of life for individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds in our tri-county community. JFS supports older adults, promotes mental health, connects youth and families, and answers urgent community needs. To learn more or get involved, visit jewishfamilysvc.org or contact info@jewishfamilysvc.org. Garage to Good: Converting Classic Cars into Charitable Contributions By Walter Yosafat, JFS Board Member MILES OFMEANING S
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