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Met Council is a strong voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Together with our network of local Jewish Community Councils, we are on the front lines of the community, tracking real-time changes in neighborhoods and responding with research and action to make sure our clients get the help they need.
But we cannot act alone. Each and everyone of us has a deep and abiding responsibility to advocate for the needy in our communities, be they frail seniors, poor Jewish families with young children, immigrants or working-class adults who have lost their jobs.
Issues We Care About
Help Us Avoid Devastating Budget Cuts
Met Council is facing State and City budget cuts which will seriously cripple our services which help New York's needy. These cuts will slash the amount of food a hungry child receives, the home repairs a frail senior needs and the legal aid a domestic violence victim relies on.
What you can do to help:
Sign these letters to urge your representatives to support New York's needy. |
Support Family Violence Prevention
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) which provides life-saving services such as emergency shelter, hotline support, counseling, safety planning, legal assistance and prevention, is currently up for renewal. Met Council's Family Violence clients rely on services such as those funded by the FVPSA and we strongly support the reauthorization of this bill.
What you can do to help:
Write or call your representatives and urge them to support the reauthorization of this bill.
Learn more about this bill>> |
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Ensure All Children Have Access to Nutritious Food
Met Council has joined with the New York City Alliance for Child Nutrition to advocate for changes to the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (CNR).
We have four goals:
- End child hunger and food insecurity
- Ensure that all children have acess to nutritious food
- Reduce childhood obesity and ensure healthy children
- Support regional farm and food economies while creating jobs
What you can do to help:
Sign this letter to urge representatives to support a strong CNR that will fulfill our goals. Learn more about this bill>>
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Combat Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community!
Met Council has seen a marked increase in the amount of calls and cases coming to its Domestic Violence Department from women in the New York Jewish community. As the recession causes increasing stress and difficulties for families, more and more clients from a wider range of backgrounds are reporting instances of family violence.
What you can do to help:
- Volunteer to put posters or other materials in your synagogue, Mikvah or Sheitel/hair salon (contact Shana Frydman at sfrydman@metcouncil.org to volunteer)
- Learn the signs of domestic violence and share the information with your friends
- Volunteer at an event for moms and kids who have experienced domestic abuse (contact Stefanie Greenberg at sgreenberg@metcouncil.org to volunteer)
- Donate to Met Council’s Domestic Violence Program to enable us to hire more staff to meet the increased need (click here to donate to the DV program)
- Organize a drive for back-to-school supplies, women’s clothing or other needed items for DV victims (contact Shana Frydman at sfrydman@metcouncil.org to get involved)
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Calling and Writing Congress
Your Congress Members are interested in hearing your opinions on how they should vote on upcoming issues. You can call, email or write to your Congressional leaders in order to have your voice heard. However, Congress Members receive hundreds of pieces of correspondence and calls every day, and so just like having a well crafted cover letter may help you get you an interview, writing a good letter, or knowing your talking points well, will make a bigger impact.
When calling or writing, it is best to direct your communications towards your Congress Member’s offices in Washington DC, where they have the capabilities to handle greater volumes of calls and letters. Also, policy staff tend to be in Washington DC rather than at local offices.
Tips on Writing Congress>>
Tips on Calling Congress>>
For your convenience please use the locator below to find your FEDERAL and STATE Representatives.
To find your NEW YORK CITY Representatives, go to nyc.gov.
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