“The goal for Holocaust survivors is that they can continue to live independently in their home safely and with dignity and continue to have a sense of community.” – Garett Ray

Meet Garett Ray

For Garett Ray, Director of Senior and Holocaust Services at Jewish Family Services (JFS), your life reflects the work you do. Providing help for people in need is his passion and serving Holocaust survivors is the perfect fit.

“In my career, I want to have personal interaction with clients and people in the community,” he says. “With seniors and Holocaust survivors, they did a lot for generations. Now it’s time for younger generations to provide support to them as they age.”

“With seniors and Holocaust survivors, they did a lot for generations. Now it’s time for younger generations to provide support to them as they age.” – Garett Ray

Jewish Family Services supports more than 200 Holocaust survivors in Columbus. Ray says this includes advocating for survivors and teaching them about all the forms of resources they’re eligible for across local funding, federal funding and insurance companies.

Since institutionalized care settings, like nursing homes, can trigger trauma for Holocaust survivors, Jewish Family Services provides in-home care and services so survivors can stay in their own homes.

“The goal for Holocaust survivors is that they can continue to live independently in their home safely and with dignity and continue to have a sense of community,” Ray says.

“The goal for Holocaust survivors is that they can continue to live independently in their home safely and with dignity and continue to have a sense of community.” – Garett Ray

JewishColumbus provides critical funding to JFS for essential needs and resources. Thanks to financial assistance from JewishColumbus during the pandemic, JFS provides food security for Holocaust survivors, seniors and at-risk families. In 2020, from March to December, JFS delivered more than 7,000 meals. Additionally, over 500 people received a food gift basket during Passover.

Ray says that according to the global Claims Conference, Holocaust survivors are living seven years longer than their peers thanks to strong wraparound programs like what JFS provides.

“JFS and JewishColumbus are there to meet people where they need to be met, to ensure that their needs are being met appropriately and in a timely manner,” Ray says. “Being a safe place for the Jewish community is very important, and we are that safe place. There’s an agency here to help and you won’t be judged.”

“JFS and JewishColumbus are there to meet people where they need to be met, to ensure that their needs are being met appropriately and in a timely manner. Being a safe place for the Jewish community is very important, and we are that safe place. There’s an agency here to help and you won’t be judged.” – Garett Ray

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to JFS’s senior programming since the elderly are so at-risk. Remote programming like chair yoga, movie and book clubs and a speaker series kept everyone engaged.

While teaching seniors to use the Internet was challenging, Ray says it proved especially rewarding once vaccines became available and online scheduling went live. 90% of JFS’s senior clients are fully vaccinated.

Above all else, JFS considers themselves a family, and Ray says a family has a responsibility to take care of vulnerable members.

“Holocaust survivors are a generation where we don’t want to forget what happened. The community needs to realize survivors went through a lot and we can continue to learn from the resilience they have,” Ray says. “We’ve always said here at JFS that our last penny would go towards a Holocaust survivor in need.”

“The community needs to realize survivors went through a lot and we can continue to learn from the resilience they have. We’ve always said here at JFS that our last penny would go towards a Holocaust survivor in need.” – Garett Ray

For those considering donating to JewishColumbus and JFS, Ray says every contribution, time or money, is valuable.

“It’s never too late to make a difference,” he says. “Any help makes a very significant difference in the community and in the individual’s lives that have a need.”

Just Say Yes Stories

As our community processes and combats the frightening rise in antisemitism and violence around the globe, we invite you to read stories that offer comfort and hope. JewishColumbus’ commitment to a vibrant, safe Jewish community remains steadfast – in times of trouble and times of prosperity.

For up-to-date information about Israel through the lens of JewishColumbus, visit our “Israel Under Attack Updates” page. Together as a community, we continue to pray for peace in Israel.