Good People Fund grantee Road to Recovery, founded by Yuval Roth and run by Yael Noy, closed out the second quarter of 2026 with a record number of transportation requests, with each week bringing new highs in both requests and completed rides. As the Palestinian healthcare system struggles under severe financial constraints, more and more patients are seeking access to medical treatment in Israel, and Road to Recovery is there to meet them. Even amid regional instability following the ceasefire with Iran, the organization continues to grow, with 25 new volunteers joining during Q2. Their latest newsletter captures the heart of what they do:

“It is more than a ride. It is a community. A lifeline. A commitment to stand beside patients and their families through illness, uncertainty, loss, and hope.”

We are proud to support Yuval’s extraordinary vision and the volunteers who give it life every single week.

Good People Fund grantee English B’Yachad, the flagship mentoring program of Skilled Volunteers for Israel founded by Marla Gamaron, was the subject of a lovely first-person Times of Israel blog post this week by volunteer mentor Dvorah Richman, “English B’Yachad: Building Ties, Improving Opportunities.” The program pairs North American volunteers with young adults from Israel’s Ethiopian community, and, more recently, with IDF reservists transitioning to civilian life, for weekly one-on-one English conversation practice aimed at building the confidence and language skills needed to compete for professional positions. Since its 2020 launch, English B’Yachad has connected more than 600 volunteer mentors with over 1,000 Israeli students, and now counts roughly 350 active mentor-student pairs. Richman’s essay captures what Marla calls the program’s “secret sauce”: relationships that outlast the ten-week commitment and turn language practice into lasting, cross-continental friendship. We are proud to support Marla’s vision of bridging Israel and the Diaspora, one conversation at a time.

Good People Fund grantee Jerusalem Food Rescuers, co-founded by Daniella Seltzer and Itay Peled, was featured in the Times of Israel last week for their remarkable work tackling food insecurity and food waste in Jerusalem simultaneously. The organization, which salvages seven to ten tons of surplus produce each week from the city’s wholesale market and distributes it to an estimated 1,000 Jerusalemites weekly, just launched Israel’s first Urban Food Policy Forum at Jerusalem City Hall, bringing together 70 stakeholders from across the food landscape and securing Mayor Moshe Lion’s signature on the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, joining over 300 cities worldwide committed to more equitable food systems. “How can we not see food as part of the civic infrastructure, like water?” Seltzer asked. In a city where 39% of families and 51% of children live below the poverty line, the work of Jerusalem Food Rescuers, carried out by 14 staff, six national service volunteers, and 450 community volunteers across 33 distribution points is both a lifeline and a model. With Good People Fund’s support, they are now setting their sights on tripling their operations over the next three to five years.

Pictured: Itay and Daniella with Mayor Lion of Jerusalem

Good People Fund grantee Ma‘atzimot – Empowering Ethiopian Women, founded by Racheli Tadessa Malkai, celebrated a landmark moment launching Nashim VeShorashim (“Women and Roots”) at Israel’s President’s Residence, hosted by First Lady Michal Herzog. The book honors 48 Ethiopian Israeli women whose resilience, leadership, and service continue to shape Israeli society. We are proud to support Racheli’s work empowering Ethiopian Israeli women and giving their voices the platform they deserve. 

Good People Fund grantee Music Mends Minds, founded by Carol Rosenstein, made headlines when the Santa Monica Fire Department showed up with a fire truck. Fire Chief Matthew Hallock stopped by a rehearsal of the 5th Dementia Band for a fire-themed community sing-along, an event featured on CBS news. Music Mends Minds brings people living with dementia and other challenges together through singing groups that foster connection, joy, and healing. “We want to get to know you before you need us,” said Chief Hallock, a sentiment that echoes what Music Mends Minds has always lived by: music opens doors, builds bridges, and creates community.