In December 2021, five local organizations received grants that totaled more than $65,000 from the Jewish Community Pandemic Relief Fund.
The Jewish Community Pandemic Relief Fund was created at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona to “meet the most immediate, urgent, and compelling needs” as a result of the pandemic according to JFSA and JCF President and CEO Graham Hoffman. The fund has distributed more than $350,000 in Southern Arizona. The focus of fund distribution has evolved over time, with a Pandemic Task Force overseeing changing needs in the community and adapting accordingly.
To date, approximately 80% of funds distributed by the Jewish Community Pandemic Relief Fund focused on immediate and critical needs of local individuals and families, while layering in the needs of our Jewish community and general community agencies that provide direct support to those affected.
Through direct conversations with government services, granting agencies, and nonprofits serving those affected by the pandemic, the Taskforce assessed that additional support is needed and impact could be achieved by continuing to support basic human services for individuals and families in our community, providing additional support for rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention, household hygiene items for our neighbors in the Tohono O’odham Nation, and support of services provided by El Rio Health to the most vulnerable in our community.
The most recent grants were awarded to the following:
Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS)
$15,000 renewal for Emergency Financial Assistance
Interfaith Community Services (ICS)
$15,000 renewal for Emergency Financial Assistance with additional funds set aside for a pilot partnership to support the nutritional needs of students of Homer Davis Elementary School and their families
Our Family Services (OFS)
$25,000 for hotel vouchers for rapid rehousing
Baboquivari Educational Foundation for the Sunrise House Family Resource Center
$10,000 for household hygiene items to aid in the prevention of COVID-19 on the Tohono O’odham Nation for the Baboquivari School District
El Rio Health Foundation
$3,000 to support El Rio’s continued provision of healthcare services to those most vulnerable
