H eadlines
Jewish Agencies Making Plans to Reopen
L OCA L
LEAH SNYDERMAN |
JE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JEWISH AGENCIES and
organizations went virtual with
the rest of the world when the
pandemic hit, but with vacci-
nation rates slowly rising and
government mandates easing,
those organizations are now
planning their returns.

Here’s a look at the status of
a few larger organizations:
Golden Slipper Gems
Golden Slipper Gems, which
offers learning programs
and services for older adults,
was forced to move to an
entirely virtual platform, but
it didn’t stop the organization
from holding its classes and
other programs.

“It’s been incredibly more
successful than we thought it
would be,” Executive Director
Marcia Garrell said.

Golden Slipper Gems is using
the summer to test out and
prepare for a new hybrid model.

The organization expects to
be back in-person in October
with a plan to Zoom profes-
sors live, so people who aren’t
comfortable with or able to
come can still participate.

“We hope most of our
people will come back in
person because the socializa-
tion aspect of what Golden
Slipper Gems does is very
important,” Garrell said.

In September, Golden Gems
will host a tour of Budapest,
where someone who lives in the
city will take participants on
a walking tour via Zoom. The
JEVS is especially looking
organization is especially excited forward to bringing back
to bring back its movie courses, its in-person mental health
which were a favorite of many.

programs. “Although we’re really proud
JEVS Human Services
of what we’ve been able to do
JEVS Human
Services virtually, being able to serve
maintained a mix of virtual clients safely in-person is really
and in-person programming going to help people get to the
during the pandemic.

next step of their goals,” said
Several programs remained Kristen Rantanen, senior vice
open and in-person the entire president of communications
time, including services in and public affairs. “Connection
community homes for adults is what’s going to help folks
with developmental disabil- that have been really hurt by
ities, treatment clinics and the pandemic move forward.”
home health services. Career
programs and services and Jewish Relief Agency
youth programs went online. JRA continued its programs
Now, programs that were for families struggling with
virtual are gradually returning food insecurity throughout the
to in-person. JEVS expects to pandemic.

hold many of these programs
“We are proud to say
right after Labor Day.

that with the help of our
dedicated volunteers, staff,
donors, community partners
and the Jewish Federation,
not one box of food went
undelivered over the course
of the pandemic,” said Elvera
Gurevich, program and
communications manager.

The volunteer program
recently returned to its full,
pre-pandemic schedule, and the
cap on volunteers was lifted.

In addition, JRA Juniors is
being reinitiated for families
with children under the age
of 12, and it was made safe
for unvaccinated kids. It was
previously called Tiny Tots
and was for families with kids
under 6, but JRA expanded it
and upped the age so families
could participate together.

JRA is ecstatic to welcome
back volunteers.

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