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Olga, a single mother, struggled to continue her education when she lost her job and developed health issues during the pandemic. Olga said, “I’m a single mom and also in my second year at City College studying early childhood education. It was getting tough to cover my tuition. I even considered dropping out. I feared that everything I’ve been working toward since I emigrated from Russia would all unravel. I picked up the phone and called the Marks JCH, a place I knew I could trust. Through their COVID Relief Hub, I got assigned to a specialist who helped me receive unemployment insurance benefits and support from a mental health counselor. I also spoke with a career counselor who understood how important it is for me to continue my education. The Relief Hub gave me emergency cash assistance to help cover my tuition and sign up for the next semester.

Vladimir, a very bright boy with a difficult background and a range of behavioral issues, came to the Marks JCH’s Robbins-Corenman After School Center in 1st grade. He particularly struggled in reading. He was enrolled in our mentoring and a Read-With-a-Kid programs, and our After School director personally checked Vladimir’s homework each day. We discovered that he was fascinated by our computer classes and was willing to do any amount of additional reading just to earn 15 more minutes in the computer lab. Over time, Vladimir’s school performance improved, and he became a computer “specialist” who could help other children in his class. He rose to the top fifth percentile in his class and is well on his way to a bright future.

After surviving Nazi concentration camp as a young man, Holocaust survivor Alexander had to survive another deadly, terrifying threat in his mid-80s: the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his wife, Agnessa, were thrilled when the first vaccines became available. However, like the hundreds of other older adults that the Marks JCH serves, they were unable to obtain scarce vaccination appointments. The Marks JCH sprang into action and in less than a week secured a partnership with a mobile vaccination provider to create a pop-up vaccination site. Marks JCH staff arranged vaccination appointments, transportation, and on-site interpreters for 330 Holocaust survivors, including Alexander and Agnessa. After a year of isolation at home, cut off from family, friends, and even medical appointments and other necessities, the pop-up clinic meant that Holocaust survivors finally were one step closer to reconnecting with loved ones and the wider world.