Announcing the Dedication of The Herzka Children and Family Services Center Dedicated by Ralph and Yenny Herzka and Chuny and Chavi Herzka in Memory of Their Parents/ Grandparents
Chai Lifeline New Jersey, serving more than 1,000 families in the Lakewood area facing illness and crisis, has just closed on a 4-acre property. A 50,000 square foot, state-of-the-art home for children and families is set to be constructed on the site. The transformational new center will serve as the heart of all current Chai Lifeline New Jersey services as well as host an array of vital new programs and services.
Plans for the home away from home include The Herzka Children and Family Services Center in memory of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok and Esther Herzka Z”L, dedicated by Ralph and Yenny Herzka and Chuny and Chavi Herzka. The Herzka Center will serve as the hub for Chai Lifeline’s core services, including case management, crisis intervention, respite, transportation, meals and more vital programs.
“The Herzka Family Children & Family Services Center will be the heartbeat of Chai Lifeline operations in the region, enabling us to help families maintain their equilibrium during the most challenging of times,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, MSW, director of Chai Lifeline NJ/PA.
An expansive gym, state-of-the-art pool, Bais Medrash, counseling center, childcare center, after-school program, recreational rooftop with expansive event space, and an Art Spot with multiple creative stations and therapeutic workshops will be features of the building as well.
“At its core, Chai Lifeline is a community-based organization,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “This Center will be built to meet the specific needs of our families, offering them a warm and caring environment of support right in their community.”
The new home will consolidate Chai Lifeline New Jersey services and serve as a haven for families facing illness and crisis, where children can drop in after school for a warm meal and support from professional tutors or engage in extracurricular activities while their parents receive guidance from therapists.
“Chai Lifeline has been responding to the needs of the Lakewood community for 21 years,” said Rabbi Fried. “It’s truly a special moment to move into the next phase for our growing community, by creating a home where children and families will find stability and have all their needs met during their challenging times.”
“We thank the Herzka families for their lead gift, as well as the Bauman, Chopp, Feigenbaum, Prager, Scheinerman, Schron, and Wassertheil families for stepping up to provide seed gifts to kick off this monumental project,” said Mr. Moishe Klein and Mr. Shalom Stein, Chai Lifeline board members and capital campaign chairmen. “As we move forward to the building phase, a new, unprecedented level of comprehensive services for families battling illness in our community is under development alongside it.”
Chai Lifeline is kicking off a $10 Million campaign to fund the new home away from home for families. For dedication opportunities or more information, please reach out to njbuilding@chailifeline.org.
