Since March 1, the public health crisis has changed dramatically, upending our community emotionally, medically, logistically and financially. We know this is a challenging time for many of the people we serve, as well as many others who have recently lost wages or been fired or laid off. In addition, social distancing has left many people feeling lonely and isolated.

Whether you are already a client of JF&CS or you find yourself in need of help due to the current situation, please let us know.

Helping aging individuals and their families

CJP SeniorDirect is the only call you need to make. We will direct you to services and resources to help you or your family member. Call us at 800-980-1982.

Promoting community, housing, access and independence for people of all abilities

If you are looking for support or services for a family member with a disability, call our Disability Resource Network at 781-693-5640.

Serving individuals and families struggling with low income

We can help you get the assistance you need. Call the CJP Warmline at 800-CJP-9500.

Our current food pantry clients, over 500 households, will all receive their food on schedule, with some adaptations to ensure health and social distancing protocols. Emergency groceries or grocery store gift cards are also available for individuals and families that qualify.

If you need emergency financial assistance, please call our intake line at 781-693-1388. You may qualify for a grant or interest-free loan.

Serving domestic abuse survivors and those who care about them

During the COVID-19 crisis, being at home with a controlling or abusive partner can be especially unsafe and challenging. Journey to Safety, the JF&CS response to domestic abuse, is here to help.

Direct services are available for survivors of domestic abuse by phone or video chat. We can provide support, safety planning, domestic abuse counseling, legal referrals and protective order assistance, emergency financial assistance and access to resources. Consultation services are available for family members and friends or professionals.

Call 781-647-JFCS (5327) during business hours and ask for the Journey to Safety Intake Line or email jts@jfcsboston.org.

For after-hours support, call, text or chat online 24/7 with the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call Massachusetts SafeLink at (877) 785-2020.

All services are available in English and Russian.

Supporting parents with young children

New parents can join support groups via Zoom to stay connected and address concerns associated with postpartum anxiety or depression.

If you are taking care of children of different ages, we can offer ideas to keep children busy as well as information on how to talk to children about COVID-19.

For new parents who receive home visits, many of our wonderful volunteers are connecting with our clients by phone or video chat.

Call us at 781-647-JFCS (5327) to learn more.

This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishBoston assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here. MORE