• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
 
DONATE NOW
SUBSCRIBE
The Good People Fund

The Good People Fund

  • About
    • Mission and Vision
    • Values
    • Our Story
    • Professional Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Financial Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact Us
  • Our Grantees
    • New Grantees
    • By Program Focus
    • By Location
    • By Organization
    • Alumni Grantees
  • How to Help
    • Donate Now
    • Send an E-Card for Purim
    • October 7 and After
    • Acknowledgement Cards
    • Planned Giving
    • Charitable Solicitation Disclosure Statement
  • Learning
    • Good People Learn
    • Our Educational Philosophy
    • For Jewish Educators
      • Our Good Service Model
      • Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons
      • GPF Core Curriculum
      • B’nai Mitzvah Service Projects
      • Archival Materials
      • Ziv Tzedakah Curriculum
    • For Students
      • Tips for Good Service Projects
      • Other Resources
  • Media
    • Newsroom
      • Grantees in the News
      • GPF in the News
      • Press Releases
      • 10th Anniversary
    • Grantee Focus
    • Videos
  • Good News
  • Podcasts
  • Journal of Good
You are here: Home / Good News Update / Down the Block

Down the Block

July 23, 2009 by gpfadmin

It was just about a year ago when Wendi Weill, a long-time resident of her community, began to hear unsettling stories about local residents that seemed to reflect the effects of the serious economic turmoil that has engulfed most of this country. Was it possible that an elderly woman sat in the dark as evening approached because she feared her utility bill would be bigger than she could afford to pay? Was it possible that an ill father didn’t purchase his medications because he wanted to use his limited funds to buy food for his family?

Wendi’s community is, in many ways, idyllic. Known for its (largely) high per capita income, an excellent school system and excellent quality of life, Wendi was stunned when she approached local social services that corroborated exactly what she was learning.

What should she do? As a community, don’t we have some responsibility for each other? Some compassion? These were her neighbors, possibly people just down her block and no other agency existed for just this type of short-term, emergency situation. Within a few months, Wendi gathered others who shared her concern and Down the Block began.

When the Good People Fund learned about Down the Block we were impressed with its focus as well as the very real possibilities that this model could be adopted by other communities where neighbors feel a responsibility for those who may have fallen on hard times and may really be…just down the block.

The Good People Fund’s donation to this fledgling group was used to pay an unpaid utility bill for a man who had worked his entire life but was forced to lose his business after serious illness struck. Though he had a job waiting for him after he had medical clearance from his doctors, the utility company was threatening shut-off. Our tzedakah was used to pay that bill as well as another utility bill for a single mother who was faced with a $2500 utility bill after the company learned that her meter had been faulty. Though the utility was willing to work out a reasonable payment plan, she still needed $600 up front.

How many of us know what is going on down our block?

Filed Under: Good News Update

Primary Sidebar

Good News Stories

The Good People Fund is all about stories that share the goodness within each of us and the way that goodness can change the world, bit by bit. Read on and find out why we love our work, helping extraordinary people. . . .

  • Detroit Phoenix Center: Providing Critical Resources

    June 4, 2024

  • NOLA Children’s Hospital A Fitting End

    June 4, 2024

  • Stocking the Shelves!

    March 19, 2024

  • Ayin Tova

    March 19, 2024

  • Tzomet Amiad Soldier Refreshment Stand

    March 14, 2024

Footer

Candid Gold Transparency Award Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating
Safety. Respect. Equity. — SRE Network Affiliate

Get Inspired

Get uplifting stories of how ordinary people are changing the world in extraordinary ways. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Subscribe

Recent Updates

  • Detroit Phoenix Center: Providing Critical Resources June 4, 2024
  • NOLA Children’s Hospital A Fitting End June 4, 2024
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 The Good People Fund, Inc. | All Right Reserved | Website by DoSiDo Design and Insight Dezign 26-1887249

Get Inspired
Just add your name and email address and you are on the way to reading Good People’s stories that will inspire you!
Educators Newsletter

Join our Educators News list for updates on to receive updates on our programs and curricula:

Want more good news?

Sign up here for our newsletter!

Good News

The Good People FundLogo Header Menu
  • About
    • Mission and Vision
    • Values
    • Our Story
    • Professional Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Financial Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact Us
  • Our Grantees
    • New Grantees
    • By Program Focus
    • By Location
    • By Organization
    • Alumni Grantees
  • How to Help
    • Donate Now
    • Send an E-Card for Purim
    • October 7 and After
    • Acknowledgement Cards
    • Planned Giving
    • Charitable Solicitation Disclosure Statement
  • Learning
    • Good People Learn
    • Our Educational Philosophy
    • For Jewish Educators
      • Our Good Service Model
      • Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons
      • GPF Core Curriculum
      • B’nai Mitzvah Service Projects
      • Archival Materials
      • Ziv Tzedakah Curriculum
    • For Students
      • Tips for Good Service Projects
      • Other Resources
  • Media
    • Newsroom
      • Grantees in the News
      • GPF in the News
      • Press Releases
      • 10th Anniversary
    • Grantee Focus
    • Videos
  • Good News
  • Podcasts
  • Journal of Good