Anyone who followed December’s devastating fire that ravaged the Carmel Forest in Israel will recognize the image pictured here. The loss of life on the bus that was carrying new police recruits to the fire scene was immense. More than 40 men and women died in that inferno, all leaving behind families and loved ones to grieve. While several had wives, some even due to deliver babies in the coming months, not commonly publicized was that there were nine women and men who left behind either fiancées/fiancés or boyfriends/girlfriends.

We only learned of this in a recent conversation with Phyllis Heimowitz, co-founder of the Amuta for the Emotional Support of Girlfriends and Fiancées of Fallen Soldiers of the IDF(www.girlfriendsidf.org.il/). Each of these recruits was classified as part of the military and as such, only wives and blood relatives are entitled to the support services supplied by the state. It is this inequity that Phyllis’ organization attempts to rectify by providing group therapy for those survivors who are considered "only" engaged to the deceased or "merely" a "boyfriend"/"girlfriend". (Her work began in 1997 when her own daughter lost her about-to-be fiance in a military action.)

As quiet has prevailed in Israel for so long, Phyllis never imagined that she would need to form a new group and have it fill up so quickly. To date five survivors of the fire catastrophe have requested help with several more going through the intake process. When Phyllis shared this tragedy she commented that when they first met with the survivors’ group "the pain in that room was palpable" as each shared their story.

After the fire was contained the Good People Fund searched long and hard to find a significant way to help those impacted by this terrible tragedy. Once again, Phyllis and the Amuta have provided us with a way to help – we invite anyone who wishes, to send a donation to us for this effort.

Back on December 5 we wrote here about a family in Arkansas who we had learned about from Randi Cairns at Homefront Hearts. Randi shared that John Smith*, the father, was a disabled veteran and that the family was struggling with no hot water heater, a poorly insulated house and little chance for some modest presents for the upcoming holiday. We offered to do what we could and sent along not only the gifts but also arranged for a new water heater as well as some insulation work on their home.

A few weeks ago the following arrived here. While we know that the work that we do often has a significant impact, nothing quite prepared us for the eloquence and heartfelt emotions John shared with us. It reminded us of the very reasons why the Good People Fund exists and of how much of an impact we can make. Please read through and see for yourself…

22 December 2010

John Smith,

* a pseudonym

With his behavior spiraling downward, school officials had no choice but to remove Michael* from his class. It was clear that he was no longer taking the medications he needed that allowed him to remain in school. What had suddenly happened? Quite simply his parents’ financial situation had changed and they could not afford to fill the prescriptions. Though they had applied to the state for their son’s health insurance, the application had not yet been approved. The school nurse even intervened and called the state to expedite the family’s application – she was unsuccessful.

Not willing to give up, the nurse called our friends at Down the Block and in record time the medications were purchased and Michael returned to school the next day.

Wendi Weill began Down the Block just as the economy turned a few years ago. It was her response to stories she was hearing about her neighbors who had come on hard times and found that there was no other local agency that existed for just this type of short-term, emergency situation.

As the end-of-year donation season began the Good People Fund offered Down the Block a challenge – we would match any amount they received from new donors up to $4000. Wendi was thrilled to have this opportunity to attract new support for her work and within one month had met our goal.

Now Michael and other neighbors, just down the block, will have a new chance to overcome an emergency situation that could quickly spiral into something much worse.

*a pseudonym

The Rabbanit Kapach has been helping people in Jerusalem for decades; indeed as she herself approaches her ninth decade, her actual work began when she was just a child. Her life is dedicated to mitzvahs and tzedakah – a summer camp for city kids who would otherwise have little distraction from the long hot summer days on Jerusalem’s streets; Passover food for thousands of poor people; daily knocks at her door by people who just cannot provide sufficient food for themselves and their families.

The Good People Fund likes to help the Rabbanit in her work and often provides her with those very items she distributes to others in need. When recently in touch, we asked her what she could use most during the winter months. Her quick answer? Underwear and sox!

So, with the help of others we arranged for the purchase and delivery of a large supply of both. As you can see from this picture, no one could be happier than the Rabbanit. We are sure that those who receive these necessities will be grateful to her (and to our donors who made it all possible.)

No matter where they may live, studying for school does not always come easily for many kids. For students living at the St. Mary Kevin Orphanage in Uganda, studying is doubly hard because so many of them, orphaned through the HIV/AIDS epidemic or civil war, have no parents to guide them nor books of their own. For most of them, sharing textbooks is the norm.

When we recently spoke with Gloria Baker Feinstein, founder of Change The Truth, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the 190 children who now call St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood home, she was about to make her (annual) visit to the school. How could we help? Gloria told us about the shared textbooks and that she hoped to be able to gather the funds needed to purchase a sufficient number of books so that all students would have their own and be able to study independently whenever they wanted.

With the Good People Fund’s donation of a little more than $2000, Change the Truth has established a library of academic textbooks for the primary school-aged children. Now, whenever a child needs a textbook they need only go to the library, check out the book, and study hard.

Gloria tells us that the books should last for four years…a great return on our tzedakah investment!

What kid doesn’t like to start the day with a good breakfast including a bowl of cereal? Unfortunately, for many kids in this country this seemingly simple part of a day’s nutrition is beyond reach and that is where our friends at the L.A.-based Bagel Brigade step in to help.

We wrote about the Bagel Brigade and their founder, Herman Berman, last month when Herman died at the age of 90. Bagel Brigade volunteers (mostly retirees and students) gather each day to collect leftover baked goods from retail establishments and deliver them to local schools, pantries and shelters where they will nourish hungry people. They also provide boxes of cereal to schools that offer breakfast to students who arrive hungry each morning.

When we learned that a large box of cereal cost them $1.25 to purchase in quantity we decided that we would like to help. So, with our donation of $4320 there will be an awesome number of cereal boxes arriving at local schools in the San Fernando Valley.

Now for the hard part – should we suggest Corn Flakes or Wheaties? (we know the kids would prefer Fruity Pebbles but…)