This week, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) visited the Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill to celebrate the $250,000 in community project funding he secured for the Jewish Federation of South Jersey to provide technology education for seniors.

“Technology can open doors for human connection, and our seniors are among those who can benefit from it most. Many seniors needed to be socially distanced to keep them safe from the pandemic. Educating seniors on how to use technology allows for social interaction and stimulation during times of uncertainty but also in the post-COVID world. I’m proud to have fought for this funding and proud to have such a great organization in the Jewish Federation of South Jersey to help keep our seniors safe, happy, and healthy,” said Congressman Norcross.

“This grant will greatly expand the ability for hundreds of seniors throughout the district to age-in-place with dignity. Post-pandemic, these services will allow those who remain physically isolated to gain training and support to better access, via technology, appointments with medical professionals and social workers, along with friends and family members,” said David Snyder, chief advancement and community relations office for the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tremendously hard on South Jersey’s seniors, many of whom are at high-risk for the disease and had to spend extended periods socially distanced to protect their health. The project will educate seniors on the use of technology to help them meet basic needs, communicate, socialize, and maintain their health remotely. This will provide the necessary support to those aging in place and will assist seniors who are living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet basic needs by providing them with the equipment, internet connection, and training to be able to successfully navigate technology.

The $250,000 in federal funding, secured by Congressman Norcross as part of the Funding for the People Act (H.R. 2471), allowed the Jewish Federation of South Jersey to secure over $100,000 more through a matching contribution provided by the Raymond and Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation – bringing the total funds for the project to educate seniors to over $350,000.