By Larry Gordon
The first question for the affable CEO of the Met Council, David Greenfield, 42, was how we reconcile the general image of Jews and the great financial need that exists, particularly at a time like this.
And the fact is that, alongside the opulence that is evident out there, a profound need also exists, with people barely holding on.
As the leader of Met Council for the last three years, David Greenfield has taken the group in a new and innovative direction that has uplifted and touched the lives of thousands of people. And if there was ever a time to step up and make a difference in people’s lives, these last 14 months was that time.
Perhaps you are unaware, but if you are living here in New York, Met Council is there, operating quietly and efficiently while making an important contribution to the lives of some of your neighbors. Met Council provides a vital safety net, and they do so discreetly. An important part of their effectiveness and success is that you cannot always see them but they are certainly present in so many aspects of Jewish life.
The organization has been serving New Yorkers for almost half a century, with the list of services growing as the demand for services increases. Those services run the gamut from food services for those in need, the elderly, and Holocaust survivors to much-needed housing for those who find themselves outside the economic loop for any number of reasons.
Today, under the leadership of Mr. Greenfield, who is a former member of the New York City Council, Met Council has the added attraction of political connectedness and the attention of New York’s elected leaders.
My conversation last week with David touched on rising to the occasion during the pandemic in response to the scourge of the virus here in New York and around the world, whether that meant adjusting policies and programs or the concurrent societal changes.
So here are some things you may not have known about Met Council that may surprise you, because you will come to the realization that Met Council is right there in your backyard. Met Council owns about $1 billion worth of real estate in the city, which means that they are a powerhouse when it comes to providing housing services for those who need a roof over their head. It’s important to note that this is an agency that does not have to depend on other organizations or departments in order to get the job done.
The Council features a $45 million annual budget and over 300 employees providing a wide array of services.
A fascinating as well as vitally important service of the Met Council deals with opposite ends of the employment spectrum under new and rather interesting economic circumstances. Thousands of jobs have been lost to people in New York and the reality is that even as the pandemic situation improves and New York is preparing to fully open shortly, those jobs are just not coming back.
“The employment situation is particularly difficult for people 60 years old and older,” David says. He explains that companies or businesses are reluctant to hire and train people who may be close to retirement age, and while there are jobs out there, companies prefer investing in younger people as employees.
At the other end of the equation is the challenge of younger people not willing to work, because with the new unemployment law and stimulus payments, it is often more beneficial not to work than to seek gainful employment.
In his capacity as a former city councilman and now as leader of a premier New York-based nonprofit, I asked Greenfield about his involvement last year in the crisis that had his former council district and many Orthodox Jewish communities feeling like they were unfairly bearing the brunt of the crackdown on trying to diminish the spread of the coronavirus.
On that count Greenfield says that he used the excellent relationship he has with both the mayor and the governor to explain to them the central role that a shul has in a frum Jew’s daily life.
With the strength and influence of Met Council behind him, David Greenfield has been able to have an important impact on laws that govern poverty issues, which the Met Council professionals come in contact with every day. Under the leadership of Met Council and through David’s contacts, federal law has been adjusted to deal with the reality as it exists on the ground.
Perhaps most important to note is that the many Jewish Community Councils (JCC) that dot our neighborhoods are an extension of Met Council. And many of us are quite familiar with the central role the JCCs play in so many areas of New York and beyond.
One of the most significant changes in the age of pandemic was the fashion in which Met Council instituted a digitized version of the food pantries that so many New Yorkers utilize. In many areas where appointments had to be made to shop for food in a quasi-supermarket-like atmosphere, that has all been switched over to the ability to shop for food online.
That is true of the Gural JCC and the JCC of the Rockaway Peninsula, with which we are familiar out here in the Five Towns, as well as in other communities. Additional volunteers now pack up food orders that clients can either pick up from their facility or, depending on circumstances, can have delivered to their home.
Mr. Greenfield is a leader with a vision and with his finger on the pulse of our diverse communities, always anticipating what will be needed next and what will be the most effective and creative way to provide the service.
It is good to know that when it comes to people, or even an area, in need, whether it is temporary or long-term, Met Council can assist at every turn, for just about every facet of daily life. The bottom line is that if you find yourself dealing with a family or personal crisis, you can rest assured that Met Council will be there to help.
Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
