A Decade of Support for Mark

In 2011, “Mark” had major surgery for a birth defect of which he was previously unaware. After a long history of abuse and trauma, he also discovered that his family was unsupportive when he needed them most. “I was shocked to find out my family wasn’t what I believed all this time,” he shares. “They promised they would look out for me and would always be there for me. This turned out to be a lie. I felt betrayed and confused.”

Mark needed rehab after the surgery, but his mom discharged him from the hospital without allowing him that treatment and turned her back on her son. As this was happening, Mark explained the situation to his doctor and asked for help. “I received a list of agencies that could help me, and Jewish Family Service (JFS) offered the most comprehensive services and was the most affordable,” Mark explains.

The decision to call JFS 10 years ago turned out to be a great one, as Mark is still receiving many services today, including care management, homemaker services, visits from interns, food pantry deliveries, and employment support.

JFS Aging Care & Connections (ACC) care managers have supported Mark as he struggles with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from years of abuse from many men in his life. Mark describes Eve Lowinger, his care manager for nearly four years, as “encouraging, awesome, and kind.” He adds, “Sometimes I’m lonely and call her or want a perspective on a relationship issue, and she is good at listening. Eve’s always there for me and happy to talk.”

ACC interns also visit Mark twice a month. They assist him with errands since he doesn’t drive and are there to talk so he feels less isolated. During the pandemic, Mark told Eve he would like to try a male intern, “as long as he was laid back and not pushy or bossy.” This was a big step for Mark, as he was often uneasy with other men, especially if they were in an authority position. He formed a great relationship with Jason and shared that “working with him was the biggest surprise. Talking with a male on a regular basis and maintaining boundaries was really good for me and a big growth experience.”

Mark also suffers from many physical health issues, including neuropathy and plantar fasciitis, which make it difficult for him to clean his condo, walk, stand for long periods, or drive. JFS homemakers have helped him off and on throughout the years with light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation. “For a while, I was doing my own cleaning,” Mark says, “but recently my feet hurt so much that I was crawling to the toilet, so I asked to have a homemaker again. That service is a nice gift, and Angelica is wonderful, so I’ll hang onto her now!”

Since 2011, Mark has received monthly deliveries from the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry since he is on a limited income and can’t easily shop for groceries. Several years ago, he developed a great friendship with his regular delivery volunteers, Tom and Marilyn. “I came to know and appreciate them,” says Mark with a smile. “They were awesome, but unfortunately moved to Arizona.” Tom was another positive male figure in his life on whom he could count.

For the past five years, Mark has been working part-time at Home Depot, which he loves. “It’s a great company that really takes care of its employees and is good to people with disabilities,” he shares warmly. However, he recently took a year of medical leave because of his feet and needs a job where he can sit more.

Eve referred Mark to JFS’s Employment Services department to help with his job search. He was interested in our Job Search Accelerator (JSA) program, but the three-week Zoom courses felt overwhelming. Summer Greenwood, JSA instructor, has been providing one-on-one appointments to fit Mark’s needs. Summer shares, “He now has a tailored resume, has used Zoom on both his phone and laptop, and is upskilling himself through LinkedIn Learning. We are sending him job postings and other resources as he expresses interest in specific fields.” Mark is currently looking at human services, call center, and resource navigation positions.

Summer adds, “When I met Mark, he was so hurt about his need to leave Home Depot that he couldn't talk with me about it. Since then, despite medical concerns that make it difficult for him to stand for long periods of time, he has once again started to work a couple of hours there on the weekends. It is a testament to his tenacity and the goodwill he has for that company. He is committed to upskilling himself to take a good fit position, and we will continue to support him with his job search.”

In addition, Mark is writing a series of blog posts for Metro Caring, a local anti-hunger organization, about how he taught himself financial management skills. He read a lot of books and articles online and has figured out a system to manage his money with less anxiety. Mark says it “makes me feel good, gives me choices, and helps me not belittle myself as I spend money.”

Without all the services JFS has provided, Mark says he would be “a lot angrier and in more emotional and physical pain. I am so fortunate I picked you guys 10 years ago! JFS has been a great resource, and I’ve never regretted turning to you for help. I feel like I’ve grown because I’ve stuck with JFS and learned to interact with more confidence and calmness.”

Did you benefit from a JFS program or service? We’d love to hear from you. Share your story!