Community Magazine December 2003

This is happening today in our own community. The stories constantly change—whether it is a widow, a senior couple, a divorced woman with children, a businessman who was just laid off or is not earning enough for basic necessities—but the cries are in unison. “How can I contin- ue to feed my family and keep our digni- ty?” Can we imagine - they are our close friends and neighbors and we don’t know to even help. But the truth is, we can help change their lives. “One who affects a person in a positive way, will be like stars forever” (see Daniel 12:3, and tractate Baba Batra 8b). What is like stars that shine forever? Is it the reward of their good deeds? We know all misvot are rewarded for- ever! So why were they cho- sen specifically to be depict- ed as lasting forever? The truth is that it’s the act itself that is portrayed and only such a person deserves this description. The act that he has done is an act that will last forever. The effect he has caused by his positive accomplishments do not end after he is done, they create rip- ple effects over and over. And it is the act that will be like a star that will shine forever. It’s not often we are given a chance to do an act that will totally affect peoples lives, but with SFF, we have the ability everyday. For over one hundred families and their concerned relatives, the emergence of The Sephardic Food Fund has been one of the most important community developments. The Sephardic Food Fund emerged into a community-wide coordinated effort to deliver help to individuals and families among us that lack enough food to eat. The approach is simple and effective, yet brilliantly conceived, high tech, and ground breaking. A typical case would arrive through an impromptu network of the community’s Rabbis, the SFF Team, a concerned friend or relative, or the applicant themselves calling the Fund. The Fund uses an application process that is thorough, but not overly intrusive, to comprehend an applicant’s financial posi- tion. Their tight-knit Case Management Team is able to perform the many steps needed to approve new cases, usually in five business days or less. A weekly budget is determined for each situation individually, (based on the size of the household and financial circum- stances), and personalized credit cards, that can only be used for food shopping, are provided to the families. These credit cards look like any other in appearance, but are specially programmed to work only in supermarkets, bakeries, butcher shops, and fish stores. Usually, the sums pro- vided are between $75 and $200 per week. Any attempts to charge any non- food concessions or exceed monthly limit charges are declined. Furthermore, twice a year the Fund doubles the family’s ability to charge, during The High Holidays and Passover. “It pains me to receive the phone calls applying for help; proud fathers not know- ing where to turn to support their family, wives, widows or divorced women feeling alone, wanting to put food on their chil- dren’s plate, senior couples who don’t have the strength to restart their failing financial situation” says Rabbi Raymond Sultan, who along with David Sitt and Elliot Sutton handles case management. “Nevertheless, to hear the joy in their voice, renewed confidence and ‘a feeling that someone cares’ after receiving their personal credit card, is amazing.” “The Food Fund is a reflection of the community itself, in the sense of how much care, sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and concern goes into the handling of get- ting these mainstream community mem- bers the assistance they require. We would be treating your neighbor exactly as you feel you would like them to be treated dur- ing what is an emotionally, as well as financially, difficult period for them” explains David Sitt, The Sephardic Food Fund’s president. “We knew there existed a problem, but its proportion was com- pletely unexpected”. Elliot Sutton, Vice President of the Fund, adds “During the past nine months, we have witnessed some heartwarming and enlight- ening outcomes as a result of the communi- ty’s overflowing generosity and willingness to help our own, and the benefits we have been capable of providing. Our experience is showing that once we alleviate the prob- lem of food, these families are finding their dignity restored, the confidence lifted, and positive change is occurring in their lives, thus we decided to initiate our ‘Changing Lives’ Campaign.” By aiding this organiza- tion you will have changed families forev- er. Their renewed confi- dence helps them face life in a totally different way. The family is raised in a different atmosphere and the outcome of this home is changed. It’s not an act of one moment it’s an act that will change the course of lives and last forever. You have made their eyes glow when the basic foods is brought to the table, so too, your act will glow forever. “After seeing the type of work they were doing, and recognizing the strength of their commitment to making sure community members had the wherewithal to provide for themselves and their families, I felt privileged to be given the chance to get involved” commented Jacky Schweky, who heads up all the organizations fundraising activities. So far the SFF has managed to keep up with a constantly expanding workload and expense, while continuing to provide food, dignity, kindness, discretion, and under- standing to a growing number of families. With Hashem’s help, the people that didn’t have enough food are getting it and the community is getting an enormous zechut for its participation. Together we are rewarded daily with the opportunity to achieve the goal of eliminating hunger and silent suffering amongst our people. KISLEV 5764 DECEMBER 2003 57 s xc CM