2025 was a year of tremendous growth for Good People Fund grantee Ruca’s Farm, founded by Nir Lahav, to offer support and healing to people suffering from PTSD. The farm doubled its participant numbers, welcoming more than 180 individuals through core programs like Arugot (rehabilitation for long-term PTSD) and Shavim (early intervention for October 7 soldiers struggling to return to routine life after hundreds of days in reserves). Two new programs launched this year: Marva, supporting women whose partners cope with PTSD, and Advot, group therapy for couples dealing with early signs of post-trauma. To maintain connection with alumni, the farm developed on-site workshops including baking, handmade pasta-making, beekeeping, ice baths, photography, vegetable pickling, and writing/songwriting with a member of the band Hadag Nahash, along with monthly lectures and community events. The therapeutic staff expanded significantly, and in December, 250 people gathered to celebrate the farm’s third anniversary, a testament to how this place has become home for so many.

Beyond therapeutic programming, Ruca’s Farm strengthened its agricultural foundation and volunteer community in 2025. With support from expert agronomists the farm significantly improved agricultural planning, beautifying the grounds and cultivating thriving organic vegetables now distributed to Tel Aviv employees, sold direct-to-home, and marketed to restaurants and health-food stores. Bee Hill underwent a major transformation with new pergolas, pathways, a small pond, and plantings, creating a peaceful sanctuary where expanded beekeeping programs now include rehabilitation courses for participants. The volunteer base grew to over 100 regular weekly volunteers, plus more than 1,200 corporate volunteers from 50+ high-tech groups, and international delegations from Birthright and Jewish Federations. Seven enthusiastic shin-shinim (national service volunteers) joined in September, supporting agricultural work, assisting participants in the field, organizing events, and conducting outreach with at-risk youth in neighboring Or Yehuda. Looking ahead to 2026, the farm plans to open a women-only PTSD group, construct a creative arts center, install a traditional Middle Eastern bustan garden, develop the Ayalon Creek gathering space, and add solar panels that will generate both power and income.

Good People Fund grantee Zumwalt Acres in Illinois, co-founded by sisters Gavi and Remi Welbel provides Community Soup to their neighbors as a way to build community, address food insecurity, and offer dignity. This is a wonderful project in which there is no difference between anyone who attends, offering community and soup to all. Everyone is encouraged to bring containers to take soup home. The Good People Fund was proud to assist with a matching grant to help fund this beautiful initiative.

Pictured here is Gavi Welbel, co-founder of Zumwalt Acres, with her apple harvest.

February 2026

At a time when having conversations with others who see the world in a different way feels more fraught than ever, I am comforted by the work our Good People are doing to bridge differences and create connection. While so much of our public discourse pushes us further apart, many of the organizations we support are doing the harder, quieter work of bringing people together, not to paper over real differences, but to build relationships strong enough to hold them. This is the work that doesn’t grab headlines but transforms communities. This is work that matters.

This month, I had the privilege of sitting down with two of our inspiring Good People doing work that feels more essential than ever: Charmaine Rice and Matt Fieldman, co-founders of Rekindle. In a time of growing polarization, we at The Good People Fund, with your help, are rededicating ourselves to supporting bridge-builders.

If you haven’t heard of Rekindle, you’re in for something special. Charmaine and Matt bring Black and Jewish leaders together for honest, brave conversations about identity, belonging, and shared history. What started in Cleveland around a Shabbat table, has now expanded to 20 cities nationwide, with over 150 fellows working to rebuild the historic alliance between their communities, one friendship at a time.

In our Good People Talk! podcast, Charmaine and Matt share what it takes to create spaces where people can have difficult conversations with courage and compassion. They talk about rekindling partnerships built during the Civil Rights Movement, about hope in divided times, and about why this work matters right now more than ever.

I left our conversation inspired, and I think you will too. LISTEN HERE.

THANK YOU.

None of what we do each day is possible without you. You are the reason the bridge-building conversations happen and 64 current grassroots organizations and more than 260 alums, can keep doing their sacred work. It happens because of your generosity and belief in what’s possible.

Thank you for being part of the Good People Fund family.

We’d love to hear from you: Hit reply and tell us what you love about our grassroots tzedakah. Your stories and reflections inspire us and keep us connected to what matters most.

With Gratitude,

Julie