September 11, 2008

Growing Old in St. Petersburg

Though Igor Feldblyum moved to the United States from the Former Soviet Union many years ago, he never forgot his roots or the many elderly people living in extraordinary poverty in this city. How could he help them despite the distance that separated him from his ancestry?

Am Echad, the small non-profit started by Igor several years ago was his way of trying to help lonely and often sick elders for whom a small monthly stipend would make a difference. With the help of contacts living in the city, elders are identified and modest sums of money are delivered regularly. For all of them, this small additional income, combined with the fact that there is someone who cares about them, makes life a bit easier.

In addition to the monthly allotments, Igor is often contacted when there is an emergency need (usually medical). When we were in touch with Igor this week he shared the story of L.G., a woman who was one of his first recipients. L.G. has limited mobility due to ongoing medical problems and lives in severe pain nearly all of the time. With the help of a translator, L.G. was able to write to Igor and explain her needs:

Dear Igor,

L. G.

We can’t imagine a better investment of $500 to help L.G regain some relief from the constant pain she lives with and have forwarded a check to Igor to assure her this treatment.

Igor’s efforts prove that small sums of money can change people’s lives for the better and that distance does not necessarily make that impossible. We are proud to be part of this very special work.

September 08, 2008

Sometimes, It Does Take A Village….

Sometimes, it really does take a village to…raise a child, feed a family, put shoes on little feet or buy school supplies for eager students.

We were recently in touch with two people whose actions, we believe, represent the very essence of what the Good People Fund is really all about. They represent a group of neighbors and friends who provide monthly food packages for nine needy families in their Jerusalem neighborhood. All families are vetted by a social worker and all are living in extraordinarily difficult circumstances…a family of 4 children living with their unemployed divorced parent in a 1.5 room apartment; an elderly widow with five adult children, four of whom are handicapped and the fifth now severely handicapped from army service; an Ethiopian family with four children under the age of ten and a parent with a brain tumor…each situation heartbreaking in its own right, one worse than the other.

How does this small group make such a profound difference? They have absolutely no overhead, all purchases, packing and delivery is done by volunteers and all funds collected go to food purchases other than occasionally purchasing gift certificates for a local shoe store when little feet need new shoes for school.

The Good People Fund is providing this group with extra supermarket scrip for upcoming holiday purchases…perhaps the New Year will be better for these nine families. In some way they are blessed to have neighbors who take the mitzvah of lechem l’re’eyvim, feeding hungry people, very seriously.

(See Part II, September 18, 2008)

September 07, 2008

A True Chick Flick

A friend in Israel sent a note this morning which included a link to a newly released short video which features someone who we consider to be an outstanding role model for both kids and adults. Clara Hammer, often referred to as the "Chicken Lady" of Jerusalem celebrated her 97th birthday this past May and neither age nor an occasional "bad day" stops her from providing Shabbat food for families…and particularly children…each week.

Clara’s story is a legend that has been shared with many people throughout this country, especially religious and day school students who contribute to her work. Many years ago, while visiting her butcher, Mr. Hacker, Clara witnessed him handing over a bag of chicken bones and skin to a young girl. Commenting to him that the girl must own many cats, the butcher replied that the bag’s contents were actually for the family to use to prepare a Shabbat cholent. He went on to explain that the father and mother were not well and had not worked in a very long time. Though he had extended credit to them, he could no longer do so. Clara was appalled that anyone would have to eat such garbage and instructed Mr. Hacker to give the girl two chickens and a half kilo of chopped meat weekly so that they could have a proper Shabbat. No one was to know the identity of the donor.

Clara has been performing the mitzvah of feeding hungry people for almost 30 years. (she was a "young" 69 years of age when she actually started). Her story never fails to inspire those who hear it.

Check out the following link to see this short clip:

http://www.aish.com/heroesOfIsrael/heroesOfIsraelDefault/The_Chicken_Lady1.asp

…and if you are intrigued by this amazing woman, follow the following link to an order form for a copy of a DVD produced by the Ziv Tzedakah Fund which features a more detailed version of Clara’s story (as well as the stories of several other incredible people changing the world bit by bit):

https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/Mitzvah_Movies

September 05, 2008

Chicks and Piglets – A Happy Update

On May 8 we shared the story of Chicks and Piglets with you in this diary…in that piece we introduced our readers to Pam Koner and Family to Family, a small non-profit dedicated to relieving poverty and hunger in rural communities across the country. (http://www.family-to-family.org/)

As we related then… With so many people unemployed, hunger is a huge problem in Myra (KY)…despair, hunger and poverty go hand-in-hand here. Pam’s idea is to return many of Myra’s residents to the activity that so many of their parents and grandparents were involved in–farming. How great it would be if they could be given seeds, chickens, even piglets(!) and be taught how to farm…the land is rich and fertile, the basic tools needed are relatively inexpensive… add some education about farming and lessons on how to can or preserve your bounty so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor long after the fields have been cleared and voila!…you have a plan that can work.

We liked Pam’s idea and forwarded funds to underwrite some of the costs of this program including the purchase of a male pig.

This morning Pam forwarded the following email she received from her contact in Myra…we think it says it all… Despite our "unkosher" purchase, we think we made a truly "kosher" investment on behalf of the residents of this tiny rural community where the majority of residents struggle daily just to survive.

Dear Pam,

Thank you!

September 03, 2008

Back to School With the Right Tools

Throughout the country, the beginning of August brings a plethora of newspaper advertisements that feature school supplies – Back-to-School is big-business and in the current economy presents major problems for many, many families that are struggling to make ends meet. We were impressed with the "deals" being offered by retailers…crayons for a penny a box, 8 notebooks for a dollar, markers, rulers, pens, pencils…all offered at a fraction of their original cost. We were fortunate to know someone who saw the benefit of being a "smart shopper" and sent them off to see just how much they could buy with $500 in their pocket. By all accounts (including the "miles" of register tape that documented their shopping spree) you can do quite a bit of shopping with that amount of money.

The recipient of this bounty was a non-profit that had recently had its entire budget for these items cut by 100%…in other words, without our contribution they would have had little or nothing to use in the coming months. Knowing that, made their note (which arrived today) particularly meaningful…

… we thank you all and your fellow supporters for your generous donation of school supplies, shared with our pediatric patients and families. The donation of pencils, pens, scissors, highlighters, glue and glue sticks, scotch tape, crayons, folders, notebook paper and loose leaf paper, and pencil boxes was just AMAZING!

As you already know, many children and families who come to our hospital for care are in need of these items this time of year. We are often asked to help families by sharing such resources, and being able to do so is so very appreciated by those in need. It is because of people like you and your supporters that make this possible, and for that we are very grateful!

September 02, 2008

A Sweet New Year

We noted in yesterday’s diary that the month of Elul has arrived and with it the start of the New Year. For most of us, the upcoming holiday will bring family, friends and an excess of food to our tables. Despite the warm temperatures outside, even I have started to put together menus and numbers of guests and the inevitable shopping list which seems to grow daily and never ends.

What do you do when you can barely make ends meet? When putting food on your table for a "normal" meal is a continual struggle? How can you possibly add the sweet extras that are so much a part of the holiday menu? Because of the generosity of some donors, we are now in the process of arranging for extra food allowances for people in both the United States and in Israel. Our agents who work on the frontlines in Israel have identified several families for whom a little extra help in the form of supermarket scrip will mean the difference between celebrating the arrival of the New Year with a bountiful table or one that serves as a sad reminder of the families’ precarious situation.

In the United States, our donors’ generosity will allow us to offer scrip to many Holocaust survivors across the country, who are living their last years with minimal income. They too will be able to shop and prepare more than a modest meal for themselves and any family or friends who may join them in celebration.

We are enormously thankful to those who have stepped forward to allow us to offer this extra measure of joy to the holiday celebration. Yasher koach to all of them!