DELIVERING COMMUNITY CARE
WITH COMPASSION

When a tidal wave of need was on the horizon,
the Montreal Jewish community was ready
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY.

When a tidal wave of need was on the horizon,
the Montreal Jewish community was ready
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY.

FOOD INSECURITY INCREASED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC—MAKING THE ISSUE MORE URGENT THAN EVER

Your gift is providing food relief to our vulnerable community members.

21% of the Montreal Jewish community already experiences food insecurity—a number that greatly increased once the pandemic hit.

With consistent research showing the clear link between food insecurity and a variety of factors, including poor mental health and compromised physical health, barriers to employment, increased social isolation, and withdrawal from communal life, the need to act was imperative.

Your gift enabled Federation CJA, in partnership with The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF), to partner with the largest food security organizations and programs to significantly support the increased demand for food in our community. Thanks to your generosity, we provided smaller organizations and synagogues with grants to provide food around the holidays, ensuring access to healthy food and outreach to isolated community members.

Three female Zera Café workers, standing in café kitchen, wearing masks, gloves, and aprons
Three female Zera Café workers, standing in café kitchen, wearing masks, gloves, and aprons

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT…

$0
MILLION ALLOCATED AMONG 50 ORGANIZATIONS
to support the provision of emergency food aid for people living in poverty, those who are low income and struggling to meet their basic needs, and for those who lost their incomes overnight
0%+
INCREASE
in food and poverty relief since the pandemic began
0%+
INCREASE
in Meals on Wheels for vulnerable community members, including seniors and Holocaust survivors, delivered through Federation CJA’s funded partners

YOUR GIFT “SAVED MY FAMILY”

Your support means Melanie* and her three children don’t have to go to bed hungry.

“I lost my job at the start of the pandemic and immediately started to worry about being able to buy food for my three children. I am so thankful for the support I received—it saved my family and I no longer worry that my children are going to bed hungry.”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy. 

FOOD SECURITY IMPACT PARTNERS

2019-20:

2020-21:

5
50

2019-20:

5

2020-21:

50

GESHER IS FEDERATION CJA’S RESPONSE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES BY HELPING THEM WITHSTAND THE COVID-19 FINANCIAL CRISIS

Your gift is ensuring that the impact is temporary and that community members do not withdraw from Jewish life.

As a result of the pandemic, hundreds of families and individuals in our community were faced with temporary financial hardships and endured some of the hardest times they have ever had to go through.

Woman sitting at kitchen table with young female child on her lap. Man sitting in background looking at laptop screen
Woman sitting at kitchen table with young female child on her lap. Man sitting in background looking at laptop screen

YOUR GIFT HELPED SUPPORT THE TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE:

0
GESHER APPLICANTS
since the pandemic began
$0
DISTRIBUTED TO 43 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
through the Jewish community small business emergency loan program, a partnership with The JCF and Hebrew Free Loan Association

YOUR GIFT “HELPED MY FAMILY GET BACK ON ITS FEET”

Your support means Robert, * and others in the community can get back on their feet after suffering temporary financial hardships.

“I want to thank you and Gesher for staying there in the wings and helping me get through these very trying times. It’s so wonderful to feel that you’re not alone. I know that many people in the community are surviving with Gesher’s financial support. My family has been finally able to get back on its feet. I’m so thankful!”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy. 

MANY HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE ALREADY IMPOVERSIHED—THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT

Your gift is bringing support to hundreds of our community’s survivors.

More than 25% of Montreal’s Holocaust survivors are living in poverty.

Many of our Holocaust survivors are experiencing a deterioration of physical and psychological health. An increasing number of Holocaust survivors in our community live alone with limited family and social support—and many have been isolated due to the pandemic.

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT:

0
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
received financial assistance to meet their basic needs
$0
ALLOCATED TO HELP OUR SURVIVORS WITH
rent, homecare, medicine, and clothing

THIS YEAR, JDAIM CELEBRATIONS NEEDED TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY TO CONNECT SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS IN A “COMMUNITY WITHOUT WALLS”

Your gift is helping our community benefit from access to more high-quality initiatives than ever before—showing us that disability inclusion knows no boundaries.

Jewish Disability Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a unified effort worldwide celebrated in the month of February to raise awareness and foster acceptance and inclusion of people living with disabilities and mental health conditions and those who love them.

In Montreal, JDAIM has fostered inclusion innovation on the ground by creating ripples that extend broadly in the community through programs, initiatives, and meaningful dialogue that push boundaries—the ripples of which are often felt year-round.

Young families, adults, youth, and even children across our community were engaged through a calendar of events, including virtual storytimes, special guests from Israel, and an inspiriting documentary short, all hosted on the Jlife platform.

Man wearing glasses smiling and hugging young, smiling female child.
Man wearing glasses smiling and hugging young, smiling female child.

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT…

0+
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER ONLINE
and participated in 18 local community initiatives involving over 30 local organizations to celebrate the magic of JDAIM

GOOD DEEDS DAY & PJ LIBRARY KINDNESS BOARD PROJECT: SPREADING MESSAGES OF KINDNESS, LOVE, AND COMPASSION WHEN OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED IT MOST

Your gift is putting into practice the simple idea that every single person—regardless of ability—can spread kindness.

Good Deeds Day is an annual tradition where Jewish people from across the globe are encouraged to participate in acts of “loving kindness” or “chesed.” This year, this special day needed to take on a brand new meaning, with many vulnerable members of the Montreal Jewish community socially isolated from friends and family in these challenging times.

The idea of “kindness boards” came to life as way to spread kindness to residents of assisted-living homes, seniors’ homes, and organizations around Montreal that support persons living with disabilities and their families, as well as other vulnerable members of the community.

Young female child looking down at her artwork.
Young female child looking down at her artwork.

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT…

0+
CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY
created over a dozen beautiful kindness boards, learning the universal value of “loving kindness”
0+
ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS WERE TOUCHED BY THE KINDNESS BOARDS,
showing that kindness spreads
0+
ORGANIZATIONS
participated in this initiative, capturing the spirit of inclusion

SECURING AND MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

Your gift is opening the door to new opportunities in the workforce for those who need it most—shifting how we do inclusion as a community.

HUNDREDS of community members have benefited this year alone from diverse social enterprises in the Montreal Jewish community.

The pandemic has put some of the most vulnerable members of the community in precarious employment situations and many have lost their jobs altogether. Securing and maintaining meaningful employment opportunities for young adults living with disabilities remains a top priority area for many families in the Montreal Jewish community.

Families and young adults aged 18+ transitioning from school to the community sector are increasingly looking for more meaningful ways to work, learn new skills, and ultimately be part of the community.

With your generosity, Federation CJA is helping to support local social enterprises—workplaces that have a social purpose to make the community a better place, and that hire adult employees with lived experience of disability.

Woman smiling
Woman smiling

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT…

0+
ENTREES WERE PROVIDED BY SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC
as part of a COVID-19 emergency food security initiative, all made by employees with disabilities, for identified vulnerable members of the community
0
INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE WORKFORCE
were provided with a job coach to allow for emotional support and help them adapt to their new COVID workplace environment
0+
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERS
are creating new opportunities for young adults living with disabilites who simply want to work and be part of our community like everyone else

YOUR GIFT “HELPED MY SON FEEL LIKE HE IS A PART OF SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME”

Because of you, Debra’s* son was able to secure meaningful employment with a social enterprise.

“My young-adult son is autistic and has been part of social programs to help him with his social interactions. Because of Covid restrictions, a lot of these programs have been put on hold. I am so thankful that he was able to secure meaningful employment with a social enterprise. He’s made so many new friends and feels like he is a part of something for the first time.”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy. 

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS & LONELINESS: MENTAL HEALTH REDUCTION IN THE TIME OF COVID

Your gift is helping to relieve mental health challenges and social isolation for individuals across our community—from children and teens to seniors and Holocaust survivors.

The mental health and wellbeing of many community members greatly suffered due to social isolation and loneliness caused by social distancing, coupled with uncertainty, Covid fatalities, and widespread economic crisis. Federation CJA responded by inviting organizations to apply for grant funding for Mental Health and Isolation Reduction programs due to COVID-19.

Programs occurred across all neighbourhoods and across all demographics:

  • Neighbourhoods served: Outremont, Notre Dame de Grâce, Côte des Neiges, Montreal West, Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead, West Island.
  • Demographics served: Children, teenagers, young adults, adults, seniors, orthodox, neurodiverse individuals.
Young male child with eyes closed and woman, embracing.
Young male child with eyes closed and woman, embracing.

THANKS TO YOUR GIFT…

$0
IN GRANTS
were allocated to 30 partnering agencies, synagogues, and grassroots organizations for innovative initiatives related to relieving mental health challenges and social isolation
0
ADDITIONAL CLINICAL STAFF MEMBERS
were hired across our social service providers—creating 100 new openings for organizations to take on new clients, decreasing wait times and waitlists across these services
0+
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
accessed isolation reduction programs
0
HIGH SCHOOL AND CEGEP STUDENTS
took part in mental health workshops
0%
OF PARENTS
who participated in parent support groups to help guide them through their children in isolation reported noticeable results in their home and children after implementation of new tools and strategies
0+
CALLS WERE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY HELPLINE
for information, support, and referrals

YOUR GIFT “GOT ME THROUGH THOSE DARK, COLD DAYS”

Liat* is one Jewish community member among thousands who’s getting through the pandemic thanks to your gift.

“I live alone in NDG, and I have been feeling very isolated during the winter. One freezing day the doorbell rang, and there was a friendly face at my door with a delivery of hot soup–it’s a program that was started to bring some warmth to isolated people in the community. Just knowing I could count on those visits is what got me through those dark, cold days.”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.