Project Ezra

Coming Up:  Luncheon at WCT for Project Ezra, Sun, Apr 27, 2025

To donate to WCT's Project Ezra Fund, please click here and select SA- Project Ezra in the pull down menu.

Project Ezra was founded in 1972 and has been working with Jewish seniors (which currently include two centenarians!) of the Lower East Side.  While we started with a focus on the more financially marginalized members of the community, seeing that there was also a need for socialization among the more middle-class Jews of the area, personal questions pertaining to their assets became less important. 

Our social workers over the years have been navigating the maze of bureaucracy in helping our members obtain benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare entitlements, drug plans and other resources. They, as well as the staff, often visit our seniors either in their homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers as well as, scheduled appointments in our office. 

We offer daily activities such as: Discussion groups in both English and Russian, Arts & Crafts, Senior Chair Exercise, Jewelry making, and a Movie group. 

Many years ago, Project Ezra facilitated an on-going inter-generational relationship with students at a day school where they meet for lunch once a month and celebrate the holidays together.  These get-togethers are meaningful to both the students and our seniors and make for lasting friendships. 

For over forty years, we have been taking our members to many synagogues in the tri- state area for a day out of the Lower East Side where they meet with members of the community over lunch and entertainment. 

Project Ezra financially supports about 45 seniors who receive minimum government social security benefits by giving them direct relief checks to help with their monthly expenses. 

At various holidays during the year, we distribute gift bags of food from our van at different locations on the Lower East Side. 

Our dedicated team works tirelessly to foster a safe, supportive, and celebratory environment where every elder is cherished as both an individual and a valued member of the Project Ezra "family." To ensure our elders can live with dignity and independence while feeling embraced by a strong community, Project Ezra relies on the generous support of donors.
 

Leaders: Harriet Kohn and Elise Wagner Ballan, ProjectEzra@wct.org