This message has 608 words and will take about 4 minutes to read.

One of the true privileges of being a part of Jewish Federation’s work is witnessing the impact our partners make in our community. The 28 local partners supported by your gift to the Federation Annual Campaign touch every aspect of community life, from providing enrichment through art and music, to counselling the bereaved, to feeding the hungry - all from a grounding in Jewish values and all contributing to the strength and longevity of our community.

Over the course of our lives, each of us will be touched by the work of these agencies, either because they helped us directly, they helped someone we know, or simply because we benefit from being part of a vibrant community that is connected and strengthened by their work.

By now you may have heard the story of Ruth, whose name we have changed to respect her privacy and that of her child.

Ruth is a young, Jewish, single mother who was doing all she could to make ends meet. She was new to Canada, attending a local college on scholarship. She was just barely able to make it all work. But when her ex-husband stopped paying child support, everything fell apart.

Ruth’s Jewish school counsellor realized something was wrong. She spoke with Ruth to see how she could help, and thankfully Ruth opened up and told her about her struggles.

Ruth and her daughter were facing eviction, and she knew she had no way of coming up with her rent money in time. Despite all her hard work, Ruth faced the possibility of becoming homeless - and having no safe place to take her child.

Paying her rent wasn’t the only problem Ruth faced. Like many people in crisis, she needed more help than any one agency could provide. Ruth received grocery vouchers, a rent subsidy so she could keep a roof over her child’s head, and a childcare subsidy so she could continue her studies. Each offer of help was essential to Ruth and her daughter. And each offer came from a different agency that is expert in the kind of help they provide.

But the truth is that our partners are stretched. The rent subsidy Ruth and her child received was the very last one available for that month. Thousands of community members rely on our partners, and our partners rely on the Federation Annual Campaign. In addition to supporting programs for community members in crisis, the Federation Annual Campaign helps keep our community connected.

We and our partners are there for the many families and individuals hit hard by the cost of living and who need help to stay connected. We are there for the thousands of Jews who live beyond Vancouver’s city limits and need Jewish programs and services closer to where they live. We are there for at-risk youth in our partnership region in Northern Israel, and for Jews in desperate need around the world.  Each of our partners plays a vital role in supporting our fellow community members and our community as a whole.

We need to stand together as a community with no barriers in the way of people's participation. When you donate to the Federation Annual Campaign you are doing your part to ensure that every Jewish child, every Jewish family, every Jewish senior, has access to Jewish programs and services. You are showing them that they are a vital part of our strong, supportive and resilient community.

Only with your generous support can we keep our community connected and strong - which benefits everyone. If you have already made your gift, we thank you. If you have not yet done so, please reflect on the impact you will have and make the best gift you can today.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

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