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February 25, 2005/Adar I 16 5765, Volume 57, No. 26
Senior center moves to Beth El
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Senior Center will relocate to Beth El Congregation early next week.
Last fall, the senior center program faced cancellation when the City of Phoenix announced that a Phoenix light rail station would be built at the site of the center's leased location at 1805 W. Montebello Ave. Due to a budget deficit, the future of the program looked uncertain, until the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix stepped in and guaranteed that it would raise funds for the program to continue.
"I'm extremely excited to be moving into our new home at Beth El," said Sandy Reischfeld, JCC director of senior adult services. "And very happy for our seniors to have their new home away from home."
Beth El is about two miles northeast of the current location.
The center will have an administrative office at the synagogue and will use a portion of the social hall for its meal program and other activities, said Beth El President David Rosenbaum. It will use the kitchen to reheat and plate meals for its congregant meal and home-delivery programs.
Dad's Kosher Deli on the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale will cook the meals, which will then be transported in thermal containers to Beth El, where senior center staff will serve them. The deli started preparing the meals earlier this month for meals served at the center, which draws an average of 40 seniors per weekday, and for 45 home-delivery clients.
"We are absolutely delighted to have the JCC senior meal program relocate to Beth El," said Rosenbaum. "This came about as the result of excellent cooperation among the JCC, the Jewish federation and Beth El."
Beth El members have reacted very positively to the decision, said Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky of Beth El. He is grateful for the work of Rosenbaum, past president Herb Dreiseszun, and "to all the people who had the foresight to realize that this is a very important service and if we can be a part of helping it continue, it's a terrific mitzvah."
Transportation to Beth El will be provided through the City of Phoenix, said Irwin Kanefsky, JCC board chairman. Dial-a-Ride vehicles will pick up the seniors at their homes and transport them to the synagogue, returning them to theirhomes at the end of the day, he said. The City of Phoenix paid to move the furniture and equipment, said Doug Goldman, JCC chief financial officer. The rent at Beth El is comparable to the amount paid at the Montebello location, he said.
Although participants said they are grateful that their program will continue, at least one issue still needs to be resolved. Last week, seniors signed a petition addressed to JCC President Mark Shore, stating that the "quality and the quantity of the food has clearly been diminished" since meals have been cooked offsite.
Until the arrangement with Dad's Kosher Deli began earlier this month, food had been cooked at the center.
"Next to home (the senior center) is the best place to be, but we'd like better food," said Helaine Rand, a regular center visitor.
A number of seniors complained that the food was "unflavorful" and that the portions were cut in half.
"We urge you to take corrective action quickly," the petition stated. "For some, this is the only daily hot meal and it has been falling short of providing nutritional needs."
The petition requests that the center allow meals to be cooked at Beth El, rather than transporting them from Scottsdale.
"There were some opening-week bumps that we believe have been corrected," Shore told Jewish News. He said the meals were fully cooked at the deli and then transported in thermal containers, which further cooked the food, perhaps drying it out. Also, they are discovering that certain foods do not travel well.
Further, due to many seniors' dietary restrictions, the foods are not seasoned, although seasonings are available at the table for those who choose to use them, he said.
"The owner of this deli has been really cooperative," he said, "and is seeking input from the people and the staff and we're really hopeful that everything's going to work out."
At this time, there are no plans to prepare the meals at Beth El. "We looked into the possibility of eventually using the Beth El kitchen, and it presented some real expensive challenges," Shore said.
Although he has not weighed the portions himself, Shore said he is confident that the portions meet the weight required by the Area Agency on Aging and federal guidelines.
Another impact of the move is the loss of three staff members. Arnold Pachecl, who delivered the meals to homebound clients for 12 years, has left. Two drivers have been hired in his place, said Reichsfeld. Chef Robert Eagle and Assistant Cook Sandy Bice have also both left. In their place is Chef Suzanne Fuchs, who will help serve the meals at Beth El.
Reichsfeld and Site Manager Jolynn Billings are the only two staff members who will continue at the new location.
The federation sponsored one of the center's last meals at the Montebello location on Feb. 18. Seniors called the chicken meal "their best lunch" since the former chef left.
Terri Swirnoff, federation assistant executive director, and Mim Bottner, 2004 federation campaign chairwoman, presented the seniors with a cake with the message, "Happiness to our seniors."
Earlier this month, the federation board approved a Memo of Understanding (MOU) that guaranteed that the federation will raise the necessary funds to allow the JCC senior program to continue. The amount is estimated to be approximately $100,000, according to the MOU. The annual cost to operate the senior center is $325,000, according to Goldman.
So far, $12,500 has been pledged to a special project fund, established through the federation's 2005 Campaign for Jewish Needs, said federation president Lanny Lahr.
Funding also comes from the United Way, the Area Agency on Aging and donations, said Adam Schwartz, federation executive vice president.
"I am thrilled that by working together as a community, we have been able to find a solution for the issue of the relocation and the continuation of this senior program in Central Phoenix."
Beth El Congregation is located at 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix.
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