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May 28, 2004/Sivan 8 5764, Vol. 56, No. 36
Senior center needs fuel
Increase in gas prices strains budgets
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Escalating gas prices have put a strain on the Valley's only kosher home-delivered meal program, facilitated through the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Senior Center.
Each weekday, the center delivers hot kosher meals to individuals who are shut-ins and homebound due to illness, limited mobility or other physical challenges.
"We would never stop delivering home-delivered meals, but we are so over (our annual) budget on the price of gas, I can't believe it," said Sandy Reichsfeld, director of senior adult services.
It currently costs about $60 to fill the delivery van; a full tank lasts about three days, she said.
The center's fiscal year ends June 30.
According to The Associated Press, gas prices in Phoenix broke a record high on May 19, when the average price for a gallon of unleaded was $2.17.
The recent increase in gasoline prices has caused several regulars to cut back on their visits to the senior center, which serves a hot kosher lunch each weekday and offers educational and social programs.
For many, this visit represents their only human contact and their only hot meal of the day, said Reichsfeld.
"For some people, if they stay home a couple of days, they get very depressed because they have no one to talk to," she said. "They've made really good friends here and they look forward to getting up in the morning."
Ruth Rabin, 82, used to visit the center every day, but now limits her trips to three times a week. "It's a hardship for me with the price of gas now," she said. "Very seldom (do) I go out of the house."
Miriam Bart of Glendale has been going to the center since her husband died about 1 1/2 years ago. To save money on gas, she carpools to the center at least two days a week to play Mah Jongg. She would like to go more often, but her budget is limited.
Besides nearby synagogues, the senior center is the "only all-Jewish get-together spot in Phoenix," said Harry Sternberg, who has been attending senior center programs with his wife Isabelle for about six years. "Everything else has moved away from us."
"It's too far for us to go to the (Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale), Isabelle Sternberg said. "Traveling there is too hard."
The gas prices have affected other areas of the couple's life as well.
On the days they visit the senior center - which is now two to three times a week, rather than five - they try to run all their errands on the way home, Harry Sternberg said. Instead of visiting their daughter's home in Scottsdale, they meet her halfway at a restaurant. "So it saves gas on both sides," he said.
Besides a hot kosher lunch, the center also provides seniors with socialization and health education, Reichsfeld said.
"I do feel bad for a lot of them, because they're trap-ped," Reichsfeld said. "As the prices keep going up, I don't know what's going to happen to them."
The center offers discount tickets for Dial-a-Ride and Reserve-a-Ride. However, seniors who must transfer between zones may be forced to wait outside in summer temperatures until the next vehicle arrives.
The City of Phoenix has a Senior Companion program, and volunteer Phil Pearl transports several seniors from their homes to the center, but his schedule is already pretty full, Reichsfeld said.
"If we had an extra van, I would love to go around and pick all of them up, but we don't."
The center is located at 1805 W. Montebello, Phoenix. To contribute to a fund to help offset the increased gas expense for the home-delivered meal program, call Sandy Reischfeld at 602-242-1999.
Contact the writer at leisah_namm@jewishaz.com.
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