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May 20, 2020
Seven Acres Switches Up Programming to Keep Residents Active and Connected
Daily activities enrich life for residents at Federation-partner agency Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the building closed its doors to visitors to keep residents safe and healthy, which also meant they could no longer have regular visits from family members.
Read MoreMay 14, 2020
Paycheck Protection Program
The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on people and businesses at the local, state, national, and international level. When the Stay Home, Work Safe order began in the Greater Houston area, it quickly became clear that our Jewish community organizations would feel the effects.
Read MoreMay 14, 2020
Pandemic Response Plan
As the Federation learned of the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic internationally, it began to focus on a community response through the Jewish Action and Response Network (JRAN). Dr. Ed Septimus, an infectious disease physician for Memorial Hermann, created a template for an organizational pandemic response plan for his congregation, Beth Israel, and one for Shalom Austin.
Read MoreMay 8, 2020
Federations Tap Deep Experience and Networks to Respond to Unique Pandemic-era Needs
When the novel coronavirus began its relentless sweep through elder-care facilities in North America, Andrew Banoff, chairman of the Association of Jewish Aging Services, found himself pleading with medical suppliers and government agencies to sell the facilities enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, to protect their employees and residents.
Raed MoreMay 8, 2020
It is the Moments that Matter
On a recent Sunday, Aerin Kalmans (pictured below with her mother Elyse), a 20-year-old college sophomore who is currently back home in Houston, picked up the phone on behalf of the Federation to call a 93-year-old man she had never met. She was calling just to check in. “How much time do you have?” he asked. “All the time in the world—literally,” she replied.
Read MoreMay 4, 2020
Jewish Teens Struggling in the Coronavirus Era, Jewish Groups Extend a Lifeline
Makayla Wigder, a high school senior from Houston, had been looking forward to the prom, graduation and one last summer with her friends before leaving for college. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. Now those plans appear highly unlikely to materialize.
Read MoreMay 3, 2020
Mensch Out Supports Federation & Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Appeal
This May, the Jewish community is receiving an extra burst of support from the Mensch Out campaign. Three communications firms joined forces to create Mensch Out to help Jewish-owned and Jewish-run restaurants, retailers, and businesses which are struggling during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Work Safe order.
READ MOREApril 28, 2020
Federation and Foundation Launch Joint Fundraising Appeal to Help Jewish Community Address COVID-19 Pandemic
To ensure Jewish life in Houston endures during this unprecedented time, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the Houston Jewish Community Foundation have partnered to launch a joint COVID-19 Emergency Appeal with an initial fundraising goal of $5 million.
Read More