This year's fund-raising golf tournament for Kosher Meals on Wheels
drew 56 golfers, who raised more than $9,000. The driving force
behind this tournament, held this year on June 9, was Albert Polsky,
a longtime friend and supporter of the Jewish Family Service Agency
(JFSA). Polsky's concept was simple: raise funds for a worthy cause
and have fun in the process.
"The whole tournament is a kibbitz, a joke," said organizer
Arnold Golumbia. Golumbia and friends enlisted the support of Richmond
Country Club golfers and got prizes for all involved. Awards went
to the shortest drive, longest drive into the water, worst round,
etc.
The Al Polsky Memorial Golf Tournament has been raising money for
nine years, supporting Kosher Meals on Wheels. Last year, it raised
more than $10,000.
Polsky passed away last year. "His organizational and fund-raising
skills, and his great attitude, will be sorely missed," said
organizers. Fortunately, his wife, Sylvia, and close friends, Bill
Kates, Golumbia and Norton Finkelstein, as well as other family
and friends worked hard to ensure that this year's event was again
a great success.
Kosher Meals on Wheels – home delivery of kosher meals by volunteers
– assists community members, generally frail seniors and homebound,
or those with special needs. Isolated and vulnerable, often they
live at or below the poverty line. The weekly meal they receive
is often the only prepared, hot meal they will eat each week.
Meals on Wheels has seen diminished funding, and a change for the
worse in the provincial economy has brought more needy individuals
and families through the doors of JFSA. These adverse changes are
having a significant effect on JFSA's ability to provide quality
programs and services. Additional community support will go a long
way to ensuring that those in need will be provided for throughout
the year.
Other ways to support food programs and poverty relief in the community
include supporting the JFSA Stay-At-Home Dinner Campaign, which
started June 15. Contact JFSA at 604-257-5151 for details.
Barry Dunner is director of development for the Jewish
Family Service Agency.
A personal JFSA story
The following is an excerpt from an individual who wanted to share
his experience about how the JFSA has helped.
My Dear Jewish Family Services,
I have a PhD in psychology and I was yeshivah educated in New York.
I had a major car accident and it took me two years to recover.
I was unable to work and was left penniless with a huge debt to
pay. Then I came to Vancouver in 1983 with the help of a cousin.
I started to do some work, then one illness after another hit me.
My ability to work was getting worse and worse. Just before Pesach
a cousin suggested that I call the JFSA as I had no money. At the
beginning I received a little financial help and provisions from
the food bank once a month. It was embarrassing at times, as students
that I had taught were now volunteers at the food bank. I got a
call from the Jewish Family Service Agency and received a hamper
and Meals on Wheels. The meals were very good.
Shortly after I turned 65 there was an amazing change – help
with clothing and other things, for example, a housing registry
service has been added. I can't say enough words for the help I
have had. The Jewish community is under the impression that there
are not many people living in poverty in our community. The agency
has many overtaxed workers, so more time should be devoted to PR
to get the community to understand the needs of it, like volunteers
to deliver food. The man who delivered my meals was 82 years old
and could barely make it, but they couldn't find anyone else to
deliver food in my area. It was a long time before my counsellor
found a volunteer to walk with me – I couldn't walk alone because
of vision impairment.
Now it has got to the point where I cannot continue living in my
apartment – my rent keeps going up. I sometimes feel that too
much burden is placed on too few people – the dedicated staff
and volunteers. There is a need for more resource professionals
in the community to offer their services. I thank everyone at JFSA
for helping me.
Marvin