Archive for February, 2011
This article speaks to choices made by many of the individual borrowers we have been meeting with in our agency. We listened as a borrower, Mark, spoke recently of having to choose between food and medicine. Doris told us she ignored the pain until it became so excruciating that she required oral surgery. During these serious times, critical choices are being made by our borrowers each and every day. Here is an example of how one community agency in North Carolina attempted to educate donors about the need.
Read the full article “Online Game Draws Attention-and Money-for the Needy here.
At this week’s inaugural luncheon of the Jewish Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, a question was asked of the attendees, and almost every hand went up. What was the question? How many are currently feeling the pinch of the economic climate in your business?
Predicting that this would be the case for many in our community, a motion was passed last year by the board of Jewish Free Loan to increase the maximum amount we would loan in our business development loan program, bringing the total to $20,000. In a recent front page article in the Arizona Republic by Betty Beard, she reports, “In September, the U.S. Census Bureau said Arizona had the nation’s second-worst poverty rate in 2009, behind Mississippi.
The article goes on to say that Arizona lost about one-tenth of its jobs during the recession; many of them construction and other blue collar jobs. We know that Arizona is a state where there are many sole owner businesses, and with the changes in the workforce, that segment of the workplace may grow. We hope that if you know someone who could use assistance with building their business, you will suggest they go online to www.jewishfreeloan.org to download an application.
Jewish Free Loan is here to assist our community, it’s individuals and families at their moment of need. This is how we help one another to build a vibrant sustainable community.
A 
year ago my landlord’s property was foreclosed on and I had to move on short notice so I rented what seemed to be a lovely apartment. It soon turned into a nightmare with flooding and then noisy neighbors moved in. Shortly after, I started experiencing health problems and wasn’t sleeping well at night. While I work two jobs, there was not enough income to cover the cost of a mover and a security deposit. After looking for five months, I was able to find a quiet place to rent and the landlord was willing to have me pay the security deposit over time. Now I i just had to raise the funds for the movers. It only took one phone call and assistance was on its way. There are not enough words to express my gratitude to the Jewish Free Loan and to the many individuals who open their hearts and give to such a worthy organization.
Stephanie
(Name of the borrower changed to protect the borrower’s privacy)
In our home growing up, whenever something occurred that we were thankful for, we would put money in a “pushke.” These tzedakah pushkes were also the centerpieces and favors at the our 60th Anniversary Gala last year. Now, everyone can have their own JFL pushke, creating their own family’s rituals around tzedakah.
