From time to time we have written here about Zeev Birger who, with his late wife, Trude (z’l), helped so many poor families in Jerusalem. Trude’s work (and then Zeev’s) goes back to the days of Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem’s colorful mayor. Teddy knew of Trude’s amazing energy and spirit and asked if she and some friends might want to help very poor families living in the city’s Romema neighborhood. With the same can-do attitude that Trude always showed, soon families were helped with all kinds of needs…food, clothing, funds to pay for the heat in the winter. But, in truth the very best gifts Trude and Zeev gave to those families were the times they spent talking to them, and the funds they contributed to underwrite higher education for their children. Dozens and dozens of kids broke through the poverty that encompassed their families and many became professionals, tradesmen…supporting themselves and their families.

With Trude’s death several years ago, Zeev continued the work. It was not easy. In recent years he would share how hard it was to raise the funds but he knew he must because that was what Trude would have wanted.

A few hours ago, an email arrived announcing Zeev’s death from a tragic traffic accident. The only person in his family to survive the camps, Zeev was hit by a motorcycle and died from his injuries. Trude and Zeev’s legacy is huge…so many lives changed for the better because two people turned their own personal tragedies into goodness and justice.

May Zeev’s memory be for a blessing. He will be missed.

Betty’s* story is one I love to share… As her physical limitations grew it became more difficult for her to stay on top of the cleaning and de-cluttering in her apartment; hanging clothes in the closet became impossible as she could no longer reach that height. At some point Betty refused to let anyone visit fearing that eviction and possible institutionalization might result.

But then, Irene Zola of L.i.L.Y (Lifeforce in Later Years) came into her life and everything changed. Irene never really understood the "nursing home scene" until her elderly mother fell and required a stay in a nearby home. When her mother died several months later, Irene knew she had to do something. In just her small Manhattan neighborhood, government statistics showed 1100 seniors, many, like Betty, living alone. Before long, Irene found others who shared her frustration about eldercare and L.i.L.Y.- Lifeforce in Later Years was founded.

After meeting Irene we knew this was a program we wanted to support. With our funds, professional help thoroughly cleaned Betty’s apartment and cleared large amounts of accumulated items, and coat racks were purchased to allow her to store her clothes where she could comfortably reach them. Shortly after, Irene reported that Betty was inviting neighbors in to share a cup of tea…a victory, for sure.

In addition, the Good People Fund’s matching grant, allowed Irene to reach out to more elders, and attract more volunteers and new funders to her work.

With people living longer and an infrastructure totally unprepared for that reality, Irene’s intergenerational volunteers are running errands, stopping for a cup of tea and a chat (see the smiles in this picture), taking walks, finding other resources to help solve problems…just being there. What a wonderful model they have built. Our government can continue to argue: Medicare-yes? Medicare-no?, but Irene Zola’s dedicated volunteers will make a difference and we are happy to be part of it all.

*a pseudonym

I want to thank you so much for the very generous contribution you have made to send my children P and F to camp for the second summer in a row. The funding you are providing makes a huge difference in my ability to send them this summer. I know that through Eileen Sklaroff (whom I refer to as my "angel" for all of her help), you know how difficult my situation is. It means so much that there are people like you and Eileen who are able to understand and respond. My children didn’t ask for this situation, and I am so grateful that , because of such help, they are able to have the Jewish summer camp experience that means so much to them, despite the family financial difficulties…

The circumstances may be a little different – one comes from a family where domestic violence tore the family apart; another abandoned (along with his mom) by her father when he went off to live with someone else; for others whose families are intact and functioning normally, the economic crisis covering our country makes time away at camp an impossibility.

As in the past, the Good People Fund has just committed to being part of the solution for several families represented by the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society of Philadelphia. When Eileen Sklaroff, the organization’s compassionate and efficient director approaches us we know that she has done her homework and not only found the most worthwhile cases, but also assembled a group of "investors" who can come together to make it all possible. This is one group we are thrilled to be part of.

It’s June and weddings and engagements abound. So many people are preoccupied with decisions about the perfect gift…a silver platter, a place-setting of fine china, a vase?

This morning, while speaking with a friend facing these daunting decisions for three about-to-be-wedded couples who really did have everything, we tried to come up with ideas for meaningful gifts. After a little thought I remembered a recent email from Judy Hoffman who began the Art Creation Foundation for Children several years ago. ACFFC provides about 90 kids in the Haitian town of Jacmel with scholarships for school as well as mandatory uniforms. Every day the children arrive at the rented building where ACFFC runs their programs…they share meals, go to school, study together, take part in art lessons, and in so doing, have created a wonderful extended family. For kids in Haiti this is as close to the good life as you can get. Judy’s email mentioned that the kids really wanted to learn English this summer but she didn’t have the funds to do this.

Would the couples be happy to know that a donation was made in their names that would allow a large group of kids in Haiti to take English lessons this summer? What could be more meaningful? In just a few minutes the idea took shape and now three young couples will be honored in this very special way. Each will receive a note about the children and ACFFC, some pictures of the kids and a tiny hand-crafted paper mache bird (much like the birds in this picture) that the kids create in their art classes.

Now isn’t that better than another fragile piece of glass?

We couldn’t help but smile when we saw this picture of joyful faces that arrived in our mail this morning.

The girls were all part of the group Bat Mitzvah sponsored by the Forgotten People Fund, an all-volunteer group that works with the large poor Ethiopian population in Netanya. FPF volunteers, led by Anne and David Silverman, establish personal relationships with many individuals and families and help provide them with basic needs.

Because of the generosity of a small foundation here in the States, FPF was able to gather 10 girls (all recommended by local social workers) for this festive simcha. Every celebrant was provided with a beautiful new dress and invited a table of family and friends to join the celebration. There was delicious food, a DJ, and lots of Israeli, American and Ethiopian dancing throughout the evening.

The Good People Fund is happy to have made this beautiful connection. We are sure this special event allowed the girls and their families to feel "just like everyone else."

Holly Hirshberg who lives in San Antonio, Texas grew up in a family that always produced bountiful gardens filled with fresh produce. When she married and established a family of her own she continued this tradition until 2008 when the country fell apart in the Great Recession. Always creative, and a successful social entrepreneur, Holly realized that people could make up for the loss in income by growing some of their own food. If she provided the seeds along with gardening tips and information, why couldn’t people start their own gardens? (Even apartment dwellers can do this with container gardens.) And so the idea for Dinner Garden was born. Holly and her husband Sean registered Dinner Garden as a non-profit in 2009 and since then they have distributed more than 65,000 envelopes filled with seed packets to people all over the country and also were instrumental in the establishment of more than 190 community gardens.

When we met Holly and Sean on a visit to Texas a few months ago, Holly’s enthusiasm was the first thing we noticed. Surely, she could help alleviate hunger in this creative way. When we asked how the Good People Fund could help, it was quickly decided that funds to purchase thousands of zip-lock bags (of all sizes), mailing envelopes and postage could dramatically reduce the waiting list Dinner Garden maintains for people requesting seeds for their own gardens. Since seeds are donated, our funds allowed Holly to start her volunteers on a packing spree and before long envelopes were in the mail (the above picture shows some of those envelopes volunteers.)

This morning Holly shared the following email from a recipient of one of those packages. It certainly confirmed the value of our investment and reminded us of just how important alternative and innovative ideas will go towards alleviating hunger in this country.

Dear Dinner Garden,
I received in the mail yesterday an envelope with my seeds as a GIFT.
I wanted to share my excitement and how thankful I am. We have been
planting a garden in past years and this year with no income and 4
kids we were so upset that we did not have the money to go buy plants
and than(sic) the mail came and to my surprise my garden in a envelope. My
husband was hurt at work and we were told our son is going to have to
have heart surgery since his heart condition is not getting any
better. So with all the bad news, not even getting into the medical
problems with my 3 wonderful girls, this was a truly amazing gift
and I want you to know and understand how much you HELPED my family.
It was like a wish come true. Thank you again. Stacy
Lorain Ohio 44052

As Dinner Garden’s web site proudly proclaims, "You Can Grow Your Own Food" and the Good People Fund is thrilled to be able to help.