COVID-19 Impacts and Resources
The JFS offices have reopened to clients.
JFS is still offering tele-counseling services. Click here for more information.
WNC Jewish Community Resources
Compiled by the Jewish Leadership Collaborative of Western North Carolina. All programs open to people of all faiths unless otherwise indicated. This list will be updated as needed. To update information, click here to email JFS.
Jewish organizations currently offering programs:
Agudas Israel (Hendersonville): (828) 693-9838 or agudasisrael@gmail.com
Asheville Jewish Community Center (JCC): 828-253-0701 or info@jcc-asheville.org
Carolina Jews for Justice: www.carolinajewsforjustice.org or info@carolinajewsforjustice.org
Chabad House of Asheville: (828) 505-0746
Congregation Beth HaTephila (Asheville): (828) 253-4911
Congregation Beth Israel (Asheville): (828) 252-8660
Jewish Family Services (JFS): 828-253-2900 or email info@jfswnc.org
Crisis/Urgent Needs
Mental Health Counseling and Emotional Support
● JFS Mental Health Counseling program: Tele-counseling appointments with Licensed Clinical Social Workers LCSW) and/or Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) via HIPAA-compliant online platform or standard telephone. Accepting Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UHC, Humana, Aetna, Cigna and other insurances. Sliding scale fees for those without insurance. Counselors specialize in issues such as anxiety, depression, isolation, aging, caregiver support and addiction.
● JFS Friendly Caller program: Receive a weekly check-in phone call from a volunteer for socialization or express needs
Food Needs
● JFS Food Pantry: open to anyone, by appointment only. Items may include canned, jarred and boxed foods, shelf-stable milk, toilet paper, kosher items. Contact-free at the JFS office or can be delivered.
● JFS gift cards: gift cards are available for immediate needs including food not available at JFS food pantry and urgent toiletry items such as baby diapers, sanitary and incontinence needs, wound care items, etc.
Crisis Funding/Needs
● Keren Ami fund (open to Jewish WNC residents only): Crisis funding for immediate needs such as utility payments, housing, bills. Request is reviewed by JFS and forwarded for consideration to WNC Jewish Federation.
● JFS gift cards: Gift cards are available for immediate needs including food not available at JFS food pantry and urgent toiletry items such as baby diapers, sanitary and incontinence needs, wound care items, etc.
● Delivery of crucial needs: JFS staff and volunteers can run crucial errands such as delivery of prescriptions, medication, grocery items.
Children and Families
● Shalom Early Childhood Center day care/nursery school: JCC, openings available immediately (protocols in place)
● Camp Ruach day camp for school-aged children: JCC, openings available immediately (protocols in place)
● Ruach-in-a-Box: JCC weekly at-home camp experience
Jewish Connections
Shabbat Services (locally produced programming)
● Agudas Israel
● CBHT: Friday night services 7:30 p.m., family service first Friday of the month, 6:30 p.m. CBHT Facebook page
● CBI: Friday night services 6 p.m. Zoom
Regular Meetings
● Brunch B’Yachad, JCC and CBI: Fridays at 10 a.m. Zoom
● Friday Noon Study Group, CBI: Fridays at noon. Zoom
● Jewish Meditation and Chant Group, CBI: Sundays, 2:30 p.m.
● Jewish Power Hour, Chabad, Thursdays at 7 p.m. Zoom
● Welcome Shabbat program for older adults (open to the community): JCC-JFS program. First Friday of the month, email info@jfswnc.org for Zoom link
Chaplaincy
● JFS Chaplaincy: JFS chaplain provides pastoral counseling, hospital, hospice and long-term care patient visits, and spiritual support to individuals and families in times of illness, end-of-life, and other stressful situations.
● CBI Chaplaincy
Children and Families
● Laila Tov service, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. CBHT Facebook page
● Tot Shabbat with Penny White, 10 a.m. Fridays, Zoom
Elder Support
● Elder Club Group Respite Program: JFS program currently meeting weekly via Zoom conference call. All participants receive regular check-in calls from a volunteer (depending on their registered participation days). Once-a-week lunch delivery likely to begin after stay-at-home order is lifted.
● Shabbat Sha-Zoom: JCC-JFS program designed for elderly. First Friday of the month, 4 p.m. Email info@jfswnc.org for Zoom link.
Other
● Chevra Kadisha WNC Jewish Burial Society: Contact any Jewish organization for information. Open to the community.
● Shomreim: CBI-CBHT joint program open to the community.
● Challah Club: JCC no-contact weekly challah pickup. Order by Tuesday evening. Challah is $5 for JCC members and $6 for the general community
Carolina Jews for Justice General Community Resources List
Click here for more information from CJJ
● United Way is a hub for accessing resources. While there are a number of websites that provide detailed information nationally, statewide and locally, the key interactive way to get your questions answered around issues of health and human services is through the phone line 2-1-1 provided by United Way throughout North Carolina. Simply call that number and pose any question. The line is available 24/7, every day of the year. (Please note there has been a large increase in calls, so there may be a lag time for a while. They are in the process of hiring additional information specialists to take calls.)
● Resources for individuals and families. For those in Buncombe County, this webpage includes an updated list of local resources particularly for employers and those workers who have lost jobs. For those in other counties in WNC, check out this webpage from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
● Media support. Carolina Public Press has dedicated a special link to the latest information about the coronavirus and WNC. Go here for information that is updated regularly, including this resource guide.
● Media support. JMPRO TV is a bilingual Grassroots Media in Western North Carolina. Their platform builds connections, shapes narratives, and celebrates culture through a variety of media such as video interviews, reportages, Live event coverage, and radio shows. They fight for a more aware and civic engaged Latinx community able to demand structural changes on the issues that affect them. The JMPRO team is made up of community reporters that reflect the makeup of their audience, and they offer bilingual reporting as an alternative media source for Spanish-speakers in this area.
● COVID-19 and financial information: OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling has this resource digest offering important services addressing financial issues with an emphasis now on the impact of COVID-19. You can sign up to get the latest information emailed to you here.
● Other important information to navigate this crisis: The pandemic has created a lot of anxiety about how to handle many issues. Pisgah Legal Services offers several videos here to help those threatened with abuse, concerned about being a renter, needing health coverage, and facing unemployment.
● The Stimulus Bill and workers. The NC Justice Center is an important resource on a variety of topics. Here is information on workers’ rights, and here is the same document in Spanish. These relate to the implementation of the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill and the impact on workers.
● Election information. The North Carolina Board of Elections offers this webpage for voting and the coronavirus.
JFS volunteer needs:
Friendly Caller program for the elderly and/or isolated
Food pantry donations
Mental health resources:
Mental & Emotional Health During COVID-19
Elderly Resources:
Caregiver Resources:
Local resources:
Buncombe County DHHS COVID-19 updates
Buncombe County Emergency Services