Annual Report 2006-07 >

Letter from the Presidet & Executive Director
The year 2007-08 was marked by the rising demand for emergency financial assistance by clients of JFS. Faced with severe challenges, not seen since the demand for emergency assistance following Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972, Wyoming Valley residents requested financial help as a result of accelerating costs of gasoline, utilities, the housing and foreclosure crisis and a host of other issues such as unemployment. This meant that in addition to the budgeted item of $5000, the agency had to find an additional $5500 to meet the needs of 21 cases. We are thankful to the excellent cooperation of the three major synagogues in the community for their untiring support for this program.

The year was highlighted by requests from the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Center and others for assistance in grant development, and this has now become an ongoing part of the JFS work program. We honored State Senator Ray Musto at our annual meeting for his excellent work in support of the JFS Kids Care Club (KCC) and for other work that he has done for the Jewish and non-Jewish community across his Senatorial District.

The KCC program continues to conduct projects that help the disadvantaged and low income youngsters of this community. Given that program began four years ago, we have assisted thousands of youngsters, with many more projects to follow.

The various programs of service of JFS continued at a brisk pace such as counseling, case management, student loans and grants, Kosher Home Delivered Meals, Holocaust Survivors Program, Holiday Assistance, Caregiver Assistance, Small Business Assistance, and many others. These are spelled out in this annual report. Furthermore, we are very excited about this coming fiscal year with a September event planned in cooperation with our sister agency in Scranton. It will mark the first time a joint Board meeting/retreat session has been held between the two agencies.

JFS could not accomplish its tasks with the support of all of our funders, especially the United Way of Wyoming Valley, the Jewish Federation, the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, the hundreds of our friends who contribute to our annual campaign, sponsors who help support our programs, and the various partners who we work with across Wyoming Valley. We thank all of them for their wonderful assistance and attention to the needs of our clients. May all of our good friends have a healthy, prosperous, and positive 2008 and the years beyond.