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THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION
JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2017
Make a difference by becoming a Volunteer Many seniors are isolated, alone and vulnerable; often weakened by physical illness, emotionally upset due to multiple losses and stressed daily by limited finances. Managing day to day alone becomes difficult. By volunteering as little as one time a month you can make a difference. Volunteer Opportunities: Offer telephone reassurance • Provide companionship to a frail senior Escort a senior to a medical appointment Share a special interest with a small group of seniors Go shopping • Be a Handyman • Offer to Drive Change a light bulb (sometimes it’s the simplest things that mean so much) Cook with a senior and share a meal Grow vegetables and donate them to those in need of affordable and nutritious food. Volunteers receive Training ongoing Supervision and Support For more information, contact JFS of Somerset Hunterdon and Warren Counties www.JewishFamilySvc.Org 908-725-779 9 Admin@JewishFamilySvc.org “Take hold of him that he fall not and come to need” – Maimonides Program Supported by the Grotta Fund for Senior Care 150-A West High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 Providing Support for Life’s Challenges, one person, one family at a time JFS Good Deeds Corps Volunteers Needed DON‘T RISK LOSING PRICELESS MEMORIES! Bedminster, NJ | 908-367-2001 | www.archivalcompany.com VIDEO TO DVD & DIGITAL FORMATS: VHS, VHS-C, H I 8, HDV, D IGITAL 8, M INI DV, U-M ATIC 3/4”, B ETA SP, SX, S UPER 8/8 MM , 16 MM CREATE YOUR DIGITAL LEGACY! Convert your old media to a digital format and enjoy your family videos on your TV. No DVDs required! 15% OFF WITH THIS AD Follow Us On Instagram to See Who’s Making Community “Connections”! @Connectionmag Can you remember a time when you felt alone or vulnerable? Perhaps it was after a move to a new area, after the loss of a parent, or a job or simply just a bad day. You may have wished you had someone to talk to who could be impartial, non judgmental. Jewish Family Services of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties (JFS) has created a program designed to address these needs for families with elementary school age or younger chil- dren. Our award winning Family Mentor Pro- gram matches volunteers with families with these kinds of feelings of vulnerability. And our volunteers tell how much they receive in return: especially the satisfaction that they are helping someone else by giving back what they have learned. Family Mentor Volunteers are: 22 and older with a variety of life and work experiences. Because we pay careful attention to what our volunteers tell us they want to do, and what they are comfortable with, we are able to make the best matches with families, as the examples illustrate. We met Karen shortly after she separated from her partner. Suddenly, she found herself rais- ing 2 young children by herself, and working full time. She felt alone in parenting and lost confidence as a mother and a professional. She frequently missed work due to her children’s health issues. Karen was eager to participate in the Family Mentor Program and to be matched with a mentor who can help her through her emotional “roller coaster” and transition to life as a single parent. Karen’s mentor, herself a working single parent proved an excellent role model. Over the course of a year of weekly home visits, Karen was able to secure more stable life. Karen appreciates more than ever that she has someone to call when she needs listening ears. Lorna, Jack and their children were struggling with their son’s recent medical diagnosis. Jack’s unpredictable work schedule left Lorna feeling alone much of the time tending to her son’s medical condition. She had depended on her extended family for support, but when they moved away for Jack’s job, the burden felt enormous. JFS matched her with a retired school teacher volunteer. Now the children call the volunteer “grandma.” Lorna and her mentor have attended events and conferences together to learn about the diagnosis. Her vol- unteer has assisted the family in finding resources and supports to help Lorna feel more connected in this new place. So often the need expressed by families in these situations is for someone who will “just listen” to their struggle, be supportive and non judgmental, and perhaps help them look at things in another way…or just spend time with them to take their mind off of the chal- lenges they are facing. If you are interested in more information about becoming a volunteer, please contact JFS at 908 725-7799 to speak with Young-In Shin. If you, or someone you know could ben- efit from having a volunteer, please call us. The Family Mentor Program is supported through grants from the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and the Somerset Board of Chosen Freeholders. Services are provided at no cost to the family. JFS is a not for profit, nonsectarian social serv- ice agency serving the needs of individuals and families in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties since 1980. JFS is committed to serving the needs of the entire community and offers a continuum of programs and services. Licensed clinical social workers provide indi- vidual, couple and family counseling as well as geriatric assessments, supportive counseling and case management services for home bound elderly. The Family Mentor Program recruits, trains and matches volunteers with vulnerable young families or with elderly per- sons for friendly, supportive, in-home visits; Families with children with special needs are assisted through social groups, parent groups and through the Family Mentor Program. Career Counseling helps individuals in many aspects of their job search. Ohr Tikvah-Light of Hope Jewish Healing Services offers pre- sentations, support groups, and individual spiritual counseling to address the health, wellness and healing needs of the community. All information is confidential. Many pro- grams are at no cost, on a sliding fee scale or payable through third party insurance. If you are interested in learning more about JFS’ pro- grams, please contact us at (908)725-7799, visit our website : www.JewishFamilySvc.org, like us on Facebook. Jewish Family Service of SHW, Inc. 150-A West High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876. On Giving and Receiving By: Young-In Shin, LMSW www.theconnectionsnj.com