Women of Vision Grant Recipients 2021
The Jewish Foundation’s Women of Vision Society has been helping women and girls in the Greater New Haven area and Israel for over 20 years. This endowment, created by 100 founding members in our community, has tackled issues from domestic violence and health to acculturation and spirituality. The endowment has more than doubled its membership and giving since its creation. Since its inception, Women of Vision has disbursed over $220,000 to help seed and sustain critical programming and services for women and girls.
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven – Dignity Grows
Human Dignity is not a luxury, yet many women suffer from period poverty, lacking money to purchase basic menstrual and hygiene products. This initiative mobilizes volunteers to organize, assemble, and distribute free, reusable totes filled with a month’s supply of these basic necessities. This program also partners with local organizations, such as Jewish Family Service and the Diaper Bank, to get the monthly supplies to the women who need them.
Yashar LaChayal – Female Hareidi Lone Soldier Project
This organization has supported lone soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces since 2006, and ultra-orthodox lone soldiers since 2019. The support of female, ultra-orthodox lone soldiers is their newest initiative. These young women are soldiers from ultra-orthodox families who don’t receive support from their families due to their decisions to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. These girls need a place to live and a support system that will guide them — Including a home for them while they are on leave, assistance with integration into the IDF, and a support system during and after their service.
Eschcolot B’Emek U’Behar – Living Space
This program is located in Kibbutz Megiddo in the Gilboa/Afula region, New Haven’s sister community in Israel. The program provides occupational and therapeutic work for 120 intellectually disabled adults who are residents of the kibbutz. This farm/petting zoo uses animal assisted therapy to empower and address the emotional needs of the kibbutz residents while providing them with meaningful work. The program also partners with area volunteers including army groups, an area juvenile detention center, a women’s drug rehabilitation center, and retirees.
The Towers at Tower Lane– Dignified Dining: Dining Scarves Initiative
The Towers is launching a new dining program for those residents with dementia and/or cognitive decline who cannot dine comfortably in the Towers’ main dining room. This project is being overseen by a task force of dementia, aging, and dining experts to ensure excellence in its delivery. Features will include new contrast rimmed dishes, new equipment, menus that include photos, adjusted lighting and staff training. Residents with dementia and/or cognitive decline often require bibs, which can be infantilizing and humiliating for an adult. The dining scarves initiative of this program allows other Towers’ residents to create beautiful washable dining scarves, which can be used in place of bibs, for the participants in the dignified dining program.