Repair the world one community at a time — thatap the end game for the employees and volunteers with local nonprofit .
“The goal is to strengthen and secure Jewish communities in Colorado, Israel and the world,” said Jennifer Korman, the organization’s vice president of strategy and programming.
JEWISHcolorado was established in 1946 with the intent to build and sustain Jewish communities across the Denver metro area.
“We are commanded to work to repair the world and do good deeds to help bring that about,” said Andra Davidson, vice president of marketing and events with JEWISHcolorado. “All of the programs under our umbrella we hope contribute to that goal in some way.”
One way the organization is working to meet that goal is by providing more than 20,000 kosher-prepared meals annually to local Jewish seniors. Through the collaboration of five entities — , , , and JEWISHcolorado — approximately 10,000 meals a year are served to Jewish seniors at weekly communal gatherings, and another 10,000 are delivered to house-bound Jewish seniors through the .
Adhering to Jewish food customs can be difficult if you’re not able to prepare your own meals, Davidson said.
“Many of these people (who are served through Kosher Meals on Wheels) will not eat if they cannot eat a kosher meal,” Korman said. “In Jewish tradition, we believe in honoring thy father and thy mother. Itap imperative we take care of our most vulnerable seniors.”
Much of the funding for the program is raised by JEWISHcolorado, which asks the Jewish community to come together for the cause.
“Itap really person to person and making the case for the needs in the Jewish community,” Korman said.
The program, which has an annual budget of about $500,000, is a byproduct of JEWISHcolorado steps in to help cover the high costs of preparing kosher meals.
“VOA couldn’t serve this population but wanted to. We stepped in to help make this happen,” Korman said. “It costs significantly more to prepare kosher meals than regular meals. There are a lot of rules for kosher, and they have to meet certain nutrition requirements of the government. JEWISHcolorado pays over and above what the VOA does not have funding for.”
To receive the services of Kosher Meals on Wheels, residents must be Jewish, a senior citizen and unable to prepare their own meals. Jewish Family Service conducts intake assessments for individuals interested in participating.
“This program is a lifeline for many of our most vulnerable seniors in this community,” Davidson said. “We are really grateful to be able to offer them the comfort of a good kosher meal. A warm meal. A healthy meal.”
For more information about the Kosher Meals on Wheels program and how to get involved, call JEWISHcolorado at 303-321-3399 or go to .
Name of charity program: Kosher Meals on Wheels Program
Address: 300 S. Dahlia St., Denver
Year it started: About 1997
Number of employees: About 20 people across all five entities
Annual budget: About $500,000
Percentage of funds that goes directly to client services: 95 percent
Number served last year: 9,162 kosher meals served to 46 home-bound clients via delivery. The JCC served 7,714 meals to 230 clients via communal meals.