You’re elderly. You live alone in the big city. If you have family, they are likely far away. Your income is limited and by the third week of every month you sometimes wonder if the few containers of yogurt and the quart of milk that sit in your refrigerator will take you through until the next Social Security or pension check arrives in your mailbox. You know that you can always count on that extra-large box of Corn Flakes which seems to last forever.

What you have always dreaded has now come true—the landlord has announced that rent is increasing by $267 for the next six months so that the building can cover the costs of the new generators they had to install after Hurricane Sandy left your building cold and dark for weeks. How will you manage those extra costs and still have sufficient funds to put food on your table?

With some new funding that we recently received, this elder Lillie* living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and known to the social workers at Project Ezra can rest more comfortably as she was one of six additional people to become part of our creative and effective arrangement with Project Ezra and a small market in the neighborhood. Each month, Lillie and others have a $30 “credit” to buy extra food when all that is left is the yogurt and milk and cold cereal.

We were not surprised to hear that Lillie actually cried when she heard about her new found luck. Elder hunger in this country is a serious problem. The Good People Fund is proud of the small but important role it takes to alleviate this sad situation. No one should struggle with hunger issues– least of all our elders .

 *a pseudonym

  The three smiling veterans sitting atop this new ‘Gator at Veterans Farm in Jacksonville, Florida could not be happier with their new “toy.” As Adam Burke, Veterans Farm founder wrote today, “

“It is sooo cool to have this and it is already making a difference. It was funny seeing the guys’ reactions as it was like seeing them at Christmastime. This machine has been so very helpful this harvest season. Last month we graduated another group of 5 veterans, and we’ve just started another group of 5 this month. The past 3 months we’ve been working sun up ’til sun down getting the crops out of the fields.“

We can see easily how this small, compact vehicle can zip around the farm carrying both staff and equipment to where it is needed. Certainly one of the Good People Fund’s best investments in Adam’s special work with returning veterans and training them for a new life.

“The music reminds me that I am still human and renews my ambition to resolve my circumstances.”

For Julie Leven, one of the founders of Shelter Music Boston, words like that are truly “music to her ears.” Started three years ago, SMB performs professional chamber music concerts in five Boston shelters each month. The musicians, Julie, Julia and Rebecca, are  all professionals with impressive experience playing in some of the world’s best known concert halls. And yet, as Julie commented to us when we met last week, “it is an honor to do this work.”  With the same musicians returning month after month, a rapport and personal connection with the shelter’s residents is often possible and only enhances the experience.

Shelter staff report that on concert nights residents sleep better, go to bed earlier and conflicts, so often a part of shelter life, diminish. In truth, the entire atmosphere and dynamic changes for the better.

We loved meeting Julie and hearing her passion for this work which has flawlessly matched her love for social justice with her love of music. Why should beautiful music be limited only to those who can afford a ticket to a concert hall? With SMB’s trio, the sounds of Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and others are available to those who can most benefit from their soothing tones. It was an honor for the Good People Fund to underwrite the cost of a series of concerts for two additional shelters in Boston for the coming year.

Brava!

The smiling faces in this very “green” photo are this summer’s cohort of Amir Farmers who have just completed their seminar before departing for summer camps across this country and in Israel. As Amir Farmers each of these young men and women will teach campers about the very essence of tikkun olam; about hunger, poverty and the imperative that we care for and serve those around us. It was an honor for the Good People Fund to support Amir’s founder, David Fox, and underwrite the week’s seminar. As David recently wrote, “ the act of gardening can have a profound impact on individuals and the larger social fabric of society.  It is our imperative… to further access to garden-based education for as many people as possible.  My vision is that Amir will serve as a vehicle that provides all people the ability to build gardens and grow communities.” We love David’s vision as well as the fact that all of the very healthy veggies and fruits grown in many of these gardens will be donated to local food pantries where they will feed hungry people.

It’s June and kids are graduating from nursery school, from high school and college all over the world. A few minutes ago we received a short email from Yitz Feigenbaum, one of the founders of Beit Hayeled in Israel. Beit Hayeled is a  special small group home where kids who have been removed from their parents by the court system have a chance to live in a loving, warm and supportive environment under the watchful care of Yitz and Irit Zucker, a kibbutz member who works with him in this endeavor.

Yitz’s email was accompanied by a photo of a brand new diploma awarded this afternoon to one of Beit Hayeled’s “graduates,”Lior” who completed his B.A. degree in social work and will start working with drug-addicted youth next week. As Yitz wrote, “A little “nachas” to share with you thanks to your endless assistance over the years.”

While it is true that the Good People Fund has supported Beit Hayeled’s kids for many years, it is really Yitz and Irit who deserve the thanks for their dedication to these kids who have overcome so much to become productive, stable adults.

Mazel tov, Lior!

…the number of food insecure seniors above the age of 60 has more than doubled to 4.8 million from 2001 to 2011.  The findings show the unexpected level of growth was most pronounced in baby boomers (i.e. the “young old” age 60-69).

These startling statistics came to us last week in a newly published report compiled by Feeding America and NFESH-the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger.

We were introduced to NFESH about six months ago. It is a new organization and the creation of Enid Borden, former head of the popular Meals on Wheels program. It was Enid’s experiences there as well as in her prior professional life that peaked her interest in and passion for eliminating senior hunger in our country. NFESH’s focus is on research, education and community partnership directed towards that goal.

While we are huge fans of the goal to end senior hunger what specifically attracted us to her efforts was a promise she made to her father Jack Borden, in one of her last conversations with him before he died. Knowing of Enid’s passionate work on behalf of hungry elders, Jack reminded her “don’t forget about the Jews.” From that last wish grew the Jack and Eleanor Borden Kosher Meal Fund, a separate effort housed within NFESH.

The Jack and Eleanor Borden Kosher Meal Fund provides funding to non-profit, community-based organizations to establish or expand kosher meal services for seniors — a perfect place for the Good People Fund to invest some of its tzedakah dollars so…we did just that and hope to do more in the future!