My Nonprofit Reviews

CHESED OF WILLIAMSBURG… was founded in 1998, the culmination of a dream by two motivated members of the , a volunteer EMS organization, who shared an elderly and lonely neighbor who was in the hospital. Not only did they tend to the medical needs of their neighbor, but they arranged for a steady stream of volunteers to help him as well.

Today, CHESED OF WILLIAMSBURG boasts over 350 full-time volunteers, including 21 dispatchers and a full-time computer programmer to maintain and upgrade the dispatch program and the VOIP phone system. Each dispatcher is equipped with the computerized VOIP phone. This system accommodates six lines and enables the dispatcher to maintain communication with both patients and volunteers, especially in New York City, where hospitals are located in heavily congested and high traffic locations. Our dispatchers are extremely efficient and have the necessary expertise and sensitivity for all calls, to ensure a smooth operation throughout.

CHESED services all hospitals in the metropolitan area, with unusual request for trips as far south as Baltimore, and as far north as Boston and Philadelphia, averaging a remarkable 250 trips a day!

WHO ARE THE CHESED VOLUNTEERS?
The typical volunteer is a licensed driver who must have a clean driving record and comfortable car, and has a reliable and trustworthy reputation. He might be anyone, from an insurance agent, a salesman, a computer programmer, who has a flexible work setup and a caring and generous heart. Most volunteers are so devoted that they plan their work schedules around their Chesed trips. Many of them feel if they haven’t done a “chesed trip”, they have not done an accomplished day’s work. CHESED volunteers are trained to respect the privacy of their passengers and often have “little treats” prepared for their younger patients. Each member is prepared to go that extra mile to make a difference in someone’s life.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR CHESED SERVICES?
Relatives of patients who require long-term hospital stays or treatments on a regular basis, and are unable to drive or take public transportation, apply for approval. After their eligibility is determined, they are entitled to receive services. Chesed also provides transportation for consultations with out-of-town specialists or medical care in out-of-state hospitals.
HOW IS CHESED FUNDED?
Chesed is funded by donations only. Most contributions are from people in the community who know about our activities and the vital role Chesed plays in the lives of so many in need. Some contributions also come from the many who have benefited from Chesed and wish to express their appreciation by helping to ease the financial burden.

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