When people started hearing that San Francisco’s iconic 85-year-old twin sisters were in need of help, offers of assistance started pouring in — and Jewish Family and Children’s Services was among those leading the charge.
The San Francisco Chronicle wrote Aug. 16 that the duo had been separated after a fall last month landed Vivian Brown in the hospital. Her sister, Marian, was having trouble paying for cab fares to visit her — and facing questions about how to care for her sister, who has Alzheimer’s, going forward.
That’s when the S.F.-based JFCS jumped into action, setting up a link at www.jfcs.org that encourages potential donors to “Help Marian and Vivian Brown and others like them.” The Chronicle article pointed readers to the website.
“There are many people in this situation, Jewish and non-Jewish, who rely solely on their Social Security and really have a hard time making ends meet,” said Judy Lynch, director of senior in-home services at JFCS, explaining why her agency mobilized to help.
“The response has been extremely heartwarming, and the community has really risen to the occasion, but we obviously need more help,” said Barbara Farber, the interim director of development and director of the permanent endowment fund at JFCS.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, among others, was involved in setting up JFCS as a route through which people can donate to the sisters, mainstays of the city’s social scene for more than 40 years.
Farber said that while the twins are obviously municipal “treasures,” she also hopes their situation will help bring attention to the scores of other senior citizens who need similar assistance. Vivian has been at California Pacific Medical Center’s Davies Campus for about a month.
For more information or to donate, call (415) 449-3858 or visit www.jfcs.org. — emma silvers