And the annual Human Needs Award goes to…

By Liz Jaffe, Chair of Human Needs Committee

What is the mission of the Human Needs Award? Several years ago, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ Board and the Jewish Community Relations Council established a “Fund for Human Needs” to recognize organizations for their generous spirit and service to the entire community. It was another way for Jews in Greater Naples, as represented by their Federation, to practice tikkun olam, “bettering the world.”

This award allows the JCRC and JFGN to acknowledge the positive contributions of several select nonprofit organizations in our community. Annually, monetary awards are given to two small nonprofit agencies. The objective is to identify agencies who serve a severely means-limited, disadvantaged population.

The following two recipients will be awarded these monetary gifts at the Power of Community Celebration on Sunday, March 12.

Café of Life

The Café of Life mission statement describes itself as a faith-based organization believing in the teaching of all great religions that one must love and assist one’s neighbor in time of need. Its mission is to provide basic human needs to the poor and hungry people of the Bonita Springs area in a manner that preserves the dignity of the client in a respectful environment and to enrich and empower people to be all that they can be.

The organization provides a hot nutritious meal Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The meals are cooked by volunteers at their homes. It also provides supplemental groceries to prepare meals at home, gently used clothing, diapers, toiletries, blankets, other miscellaneous personal goods and, at times, furniture and appliances.

The Café has more than 500 volunteers who contribute thousands of hours. They cook, serve meals, pick up groceries, tend the clothing area and pantry tables, and much more.

Jeff Nichols, the executive director of Café of Life, is a part-time employee, along with about six other part-time employees. They only have one full-time employee. The fact that they can accomplish so much with such a limited staff demonstrates the enormous amount of work done by their volunteers.

We are very proud to recognize the Café of Life for one of the Human Needs awards.

SAGE House Naples

Marianne Lambertson, founder, SAGE House Naples, Inc. says its mission is to provide shelter, services and unconditional love and support to all LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults. LGBTQ+ youth experience a 120% higher risk of homelessness than their peers. Once on the street, they face additional hardships because of stigma and discrimination.

In the United States, while LGBTQ+ youth make up only 10% of the total youth population, a report from William’s Institute estimates LGBTQ+ youth comprise an astounding 40% of all young people experiencing homelessness in the country. Southwest Florida is no exception. In Collier County alone, it is estimated that there are over 130 homeless LGBTQ+ teens each year. Once homeless, young LGBTQ+ people are at high risk of facing violence, discrimination, sexual exploitation and substance abuse.

The goal of SAGE House is to provide a residence (including meals, clothing and anything else they need), mental health and support services (individual, family and group counseling for those at the residence as well as anyone else seeking services), holistic programs (animal, art and music therapy), social programs, leadership and community roles and, eventually, an education fund.

The organization will provide a residence for potentially homeless youth and a safe place for individual, family and group counseling. Th ere will be events and community-wide education as well.

We are pleased to present a Human Needs Award to SAGE House.

We hope you will all join us on March 12 as we congratulate Café of Life and SAGE House.