Organizations come to seniors' aid during holidays

Judy Fraden spent much of last Wednesday afternoon driving around Altamonte Springs.

She had four gift bags decorated with brightly colored tissue paper and six neatly packaged containers of food on her back seat, and she was following the directions written on a piece of paper to take her to her first of four destinations.

Her long burnt orange and deep red floral skirt blew in the wind as she walked up, bags in hand, to Unit 183. She had been to the same first-floor apartment for Rosh Hashanah in September, but still waited anxiously for 89-year-old Joe Zollman to answer the door.

She was greeted with a smile and a warm embrace.

Fraden was just one of the volunteers for Jewish Family Services who delivered Thanksgiving meals to homebound seniors of all faiths on Wednesday, Nov. 23 — and because of their outreach, dozens of seniors such as Zollman, who cannot leave their house, have something to look forward to during the holiday season.

For Zollman and his wife of 63 years, Greta, who is confined to a wheelchair, the meals are lifesaving.

“Joe does the majority of the cooking,” their caretaker, Roxanne Efing, said. “So for him it is a little break.”

The Zollmans have been getting their holiday meals through JFS for four years now, and for the two Holocaust survivors who often think back to the day they first arrived in the U.S. knowing no English, recognizing and celebrating the holidays each year is a great reminder of how far they have come.

“The Jewish community does an outstanding job, and it is really remarkable what they do,” Joe Zollman said. “I am forever grateful.”

Every year there are so many organizations such as JFS that offer outreach to homebound seniors, some of whom live alone and really look forward to the company, even if it is just for a moment.

Seniors First, an organization with a mission to keep seniors independent, also offers meals to seniors during the holiday season. The 45-year-old organization, best known for its Meals on Wheels program, delivers 900-1,000 meals every day.

The organization also offers a congregate meal program that brings seniors who are able to leave their house together for a meal.

It gives them a chance to socialize, said Marsha Lorenz, president and CEO of Seniors First.

There are 16 centers throughout Seminole and Orange counties that host the neighborhood lunches, and some transportation is provided for those seniors who are unable to drive.

More than 6,600 seniors benefited from Seniors First’s outreach programs last year.

Other organizations and outreach services for this holiday season include:

Jewish Family Services, on Lee Road in Winter Park, will also be delivering meals for Thanksgiving and Passover. Call 407-644-7593 or visit jfsorlando.org

Seniors First “Fill a Wallet for a Senior” is a donation drive that asks for a wallet with $10 cash or a $10 supermarket gift card that can be given to a senior who cannot afford gifts or food this holiday season. Visit seniorsfirstinc.org or call 407-292-0177.

The Jewish Pavilion of Central Florida is offering a series of Hanukkah parties for residents of all faiths in Longwood, Lake Mary, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Maitland, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Winter Park, South Orlando and downtown. Visit jewishpavilion.org or call 407-678-9363. The party schedule includes:

Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Maitland:

• Friday, Dec. 9, noon at Grand Villa.

• Sunday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. at Horizon Bay Boston Avenue

• Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. at Life Care

• Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m. at Savannah Court

• Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m. at Eastbrooke Gardens

• Friday, Dec. 23, 11:30 a.m. at Savannah Court

Oviedo, Winter Springs and Winter Park:

• Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. at Winter Park Care and Rehab

• Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. at Arden Courts

• Tuesday, Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m. at Emeritus of Oviedo

• Friday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. at The Mayflower

• Wednesday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. at Regents Park and the Westchester

Longwood, Lake Mary, Sanford:

• Friday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at Village on the Green Hanukkah

• Friday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m. at Heritage at Lake Forrest Hanukkah Dinner

• Friday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m. at Island Lake Hanukkah

• Sunday, Dec. 18, 1 p.m. at Chambrel Hanukah

• Tuesday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m. at Lake Mary Rehab

• Wednesday, Dec. 21, noon at Oakmonte Village Hanukkah Lunch

South Orlando and in town:

• Thursday, Dec. 8, 10:30 a.m. at Rosemont-

• Monday, Dec. 12, 1:45 p.m. at HC Windermere

• Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m. at Emeritus Ocoee

• Thursday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m. at Delaney Park

• Friday, Dec. 16, 1:30 p.m. at Madison House

• Monday, Dec. 19, 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Towers

• Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. at Lake Bennett

• Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1:30 p.m. at Spring Hills Hunters Creek