Eva Buck, benefits check-up coordinator for Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley, a social services agency in Allentown, theoretically is a part-time employee.

But the woman described by her boss, Debbie Zoller, the agency's executive director, as a "go-getter" usually works close to a full-time schedule.

This is Buck's choice.

"Our goal is to help people in the community function better," she says, by identifying benefits older adults and disabled individuals with limited incomes qualify for.

"If it takes 10 hours to fill out an application, we'll do it," Buck emphasizes.

"We advocate for clients. It's confusing for them to fill out applications and find resources," Zoller adds.

Buck is undaunted. She spends a lot of time researching various sources of aid, and says the agency last year served 342 Lehigh County residents, helping them acquire over $1.8 million in benefits.

Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley also helped 147 people in Northampton County receive more than $800,000 in benefits in 2013, according to Buck.

Many of those benefits involve food.

"One-third of older people have food issues," Buck reports, noting her agency helps them sign up for food stamps.

Funded by the United Way and Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the agency also applies for grants and receives funds from foundations and private benefactors.

Recently, Jewish Family Service received a $25,000 grant from Walmart, distributed to the agency through Mazon, a national organization involved in finding solutions to senior hunger.

"We also lobby our state representatives to get more assistance for seniors," Buck discloses.

Currently, about 10 employees and 50 to 60 volunteers staff Jewish Family Service, 20th and Allen streets, in the west end of Allentown.

Clients include individuals of all races, national origins and religions.

"Our services are not just for Jewish people," Zoller points out. "We don't discriminate."

New clients number about 30 to 35 a month, according to Buck, who says she and trained volunteers do community outreach to identify those in need and determine what services they are eligible for.

"We go to senior centers, the housing authorities, churches, mosques, synagogues, libraries, senior fairs, wherever older people are," she explains.

Jewish Family Service workers also partner with other organizations and with state senators and representatives.

"We do presentations at their information sessions where they're addressing senior constituents' needs," Buck continues.

Some of the benefits available, in addition to food stamps, include property tax or rent rebates; heating fuel assistance; vision, hearing and dental services; medical assistance; congregate meals and home-delivered meals; prescription drug assistance; subsidized housing; Metro Plus shared rides program; tax credits; free cell phones; and much more.

Approximately 1,300 benefits are available to seniors and to people with disabilities, according to Buck.

The agency also operates an emergency food pantry several days a week on its premises. It is supported through donations of food and supermarket gift cards from the community.

Conceding her agency "can't help everybody," Zoller laments, "There are more needs than resources."

Still, she and Buck and what Zoller refers to as "our good staff of caring people," work daily to "figure out a strategy to help people; we want to empower them and try to lead them in the right direction," Zoller explains.

Zoller believes her agency's efforts are appreciated.

"They know we care. For many people, this is a life-changing experience. We're improving their quality of life."