In the soccer world an “assist” is a pass that ends in a goal. Recently, we became involved in an effort where more than one assist has helped kids in California who love soccer but cannot always partake because of their family’s limited resources.

 It all started when the Millburn (NJ) Rowdies wanted to honor their favorite coach and that is where the Good People Fund stepped in to help.

 When we thought of kids who might enjoy soccer we immediately remembered all of the children we met last year when visiting Sunday Friends in San Jose, CA. Sunday Friends runs a twice-monthly program in a local school that attracts the area’s poorest families (mostly first or second generation immigrants). The families work with volunteers “empowering families in need to break the cycle of poverty. Children and parents earn basic necessities while they contribute to their community, learn life skills and develop self-sufficiency.” We were sure that the Rowdies’ tzedakah collection could be used to purchase soccer equipment for some of the kids and Janis Baron, the organization’s founder, agreed.

 The Rowdies’ generous monetary donation has made it possible for Sunday Friends’ to purchase new cleats, soccer balls, knee pads and more. But — what happened next was even more exciting. The Rowdies, and several other teams inspired by their efforts, decided to collect “outgrown” equipment which will be sent to Sunday Friends.  Sydney Rosenbaum (pictured here with her sister), soon to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, has taken on the job of collecting equipment for the Rowdies.  We expect a large shipment will go out to Sunday Friends for the upcoming holiday season.

We bet there is lots of gently used soccer equipment just waiting to find a new home…

They are so inspirational! They are illiterate but learned to weigh ingredients and how to record their income/expenses, they were disempowered and marginalized but now run their own company and raise their heads with pride!

Jacob Sztokman’s Gabriel Project Mumbai, helps to alleviate hunger for hundreds of children in the Mumbai slums while at the same time offering women there the opportunity to prepare the meals and provide income for themselves and their own families. Last month we wrote that rather than have the women prepare the food in their homes, a central facility had been found and all that was needed was some equipment to get the women started in their own business. The Good People Fund provided the funds for that equipment and this morning we received this great picture. As Jacob shared with us…”One woman was amazed that people they have never met are helping them set up their kitchen. I told her that we are all partners here in providing the children with nutritious food and for the success in their community run business…”

Hungry kids are fed. Women are empowered. What better way to invest our tzedakah?

Here in the Northeast cooler weather has finally arrived. In Tel Aviv a similar change to lower temperatures has also kicked in and that has gotten our friend Gideon Ben Ami thinking about a new and healthier way to help feed hungry people. Gideon spends a good part of his day driving from bakeries to supermarkets and other food purveyors, picking up donations of leftovers which he immediately delivers to local shelters in the area.

While the breads and cakes and bourekas he collects can certainly serve as nourishment for people who have little to eat, the carbs and sugar are most definitely not the healthiest fare to offer. A restaurateur for most of his life, Gideon decided that a rich, flavorful soup would be so much healthier and so he purchased several large soup pots and enlisted a group of volunteer “soup-makers” who have agreed to prepare at least one batch weekly (some are doing even more). The soup is then delivered to the appropriate shelter.

Word has it that this new experiment has received a very positive response. At a cost of less than 30 shekels (less than $10), a healthy alternative food choice is now available. Judging by this picture Gideon just sent we cannot help but agree. It sure doesn’t look like Campbell’s!

Tucked away in a remote spot near Israel’s Dead Sea is a hidden reserve called Einot Tsukim—actually the lowest nature reserve in the world. Filled with pools of natural spring water, we can think of no better place for a group of kids  from Camp Shutaf to escape to during their summer camp experience last month.

When Miriam Avraham and Beth Steinberg, Shutaf’s dedicated founders wrote asking if the Good People Fund could possibly cover the cost of a bus that would take the kids on this special outing, who could say no?

The pictures just arrived and it appears that the kids had the best time. Our only regret? Why couldn’t we have been there, too?

Something about this picture which was sent early this morning by the Gabriel Project Mumbai has captivated us…the colors? The look of hope on the women’s faces, perhaps? Or, is it just stunning because it represents one more success for Jacob Sztokman’s dream of helping to alleviate the extreme poverty of Mumbai’s slums? Women’s empowerment groups (those smiling faces) receive micro-credit funding to purchase the ingredients for the meals they prepare daily for the 500 children in the program. These nutritious lunches are the only complete meal the kids may get that day. Now, rather than cook in their individual homes, the women have a central kitchen in which to work and perhaps, even expand their operation allowing for even greater improvement of their own family’s well-being.

Perhaps you’d like to help the Good People Fund purchase some of the utensils the women will need in their food preparation?