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You are here: Home / Good News Update / Say Cheese-The Update

Say Cheese-The Update

I am coming to the end of a long day at my desk but the phone call I just received could not have made me happier or more firmly convinced that the work that we do makes all the difference to so many people, many of them lonely with no one who really cares about their well-being.

The call was from Darla Oz who with her husband, "Oz", runs House to House in Jerusalem.(http://housetohouseisrael.org). Back on May 11, I shared the following story in this Diary:

…While catching up with Darla in an early morning call today, we learned about a small hotel in Jerusalem which is home to almost 200 elderly Shoah survivors, many of them ill and lonely. Darla shared that in a conversation with the social worker at the site; she learned…that for many of these elders birthdays are rarely celebrated-no gifts, no cards…just a lonely day like any other. The social worker also told Darla that many residents wished that the local grocer (who brings basic food items to the hotel lobby each Friday so that everyone can come down and shop) would include some fresh cheese in his weekly visits. They truly missed enjoying a piece of fresh cheese! In about 30 seconds Darla and I decided that each of these residents should enjoy a nice chunk of fresh cheese, and what better time for them to receive one than on their birthday! Darla also asked if it would be possible to get birthday cards for each of them and we promised we would enlist as many teachers as possible in this simple act of chesed.

This afternoon, Darla called to tell me how she and her friend, a cab driver, made their way over to the hotel with the first batch of gifts for all birthdays recently celebrated. The gift bags were beautiful. Darla had enlisted some women at the local women’s shelter who wrapped the soap bars with paper donated by a local shop, and another nearby shop had given Darla a deep discount on the jars of preserves (there were 10 flavors to choose from!). All Darla needed were the birthday cards which she managed to have done by two Russian women that she knew, along with a third that she met on the street!

The social worker called each resident down on the house phone and one by one they received their little gifts. (we should tell you that not one of these elders is younger than 80!) Nothing prepared Darla for the comments. One elderly man who is suffering from cancer and has had an arm amputated and has sight in only one eye, came for his gift and holding the bag in the stub of his arm, told her "I’ve never received anything at all…". Another elderly woman shared that it had been 40 years since she had last gotten a birthday present…

One additional comment Darla shared with me really hit me…she reminded me that so often the sparkle in our elders’ eyes dims as they age; in each of the people who came for their gifts you could not miss the light that shone when they opened their packages and saw the cards. It must have been a truly beautiful experience.

By the time this little mitzvah reaches all 197 residents of the hotel we can only imagine what comments, what joy and what happiness we engendered. Who would have thought?

PS-We are excited to add that the remaining birthday cards are going to be made by kids in several religious school classes here in the States and will be mailed to Darla so that she can put them in the next batch of gift bags.

Filed Under: Good News Update

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GPF Live From Israel!

Sunday, March 3rd @ 12 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Find out how they’re meeting new challenges since Oct. 7, while staying true to their passions and missions of elevating good and uplifting the communities they serve. And ask your questions!

Our family in Israel is hurting,
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There has been significant loss of life, horrific injuries and deep, deep trauma from an unexpected attack on its soil and from the unprecedented kidnapping of so many civilians and soldiers. We are working hard to uncover needs on the ground that we can meet and help facilitate in our typical manner—person to person.

We have spoken with several grantees and the sentiments we hear over and over again are disbelief and shock … but more than anything, resolve. They foresee that many more lives will be lost and that life, as they knew it, has been forever altered.

As we have learned from earlier wars, the situation is fluid and each day new needs will be identified. We have joined together with two grantees and, conferring with local social workers, are developing a plan to assist at least twelve families directly impacted by the war, as well as families of kidnapped victims.

We would be grateful if you would be a part of our efforts to help in the way that we do best … our very personal way.

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April 11, 7:30 pm Eastern

How Good People Help Aspiring Americans Succeed

Join us for our second Good People Talk Live! event – Meet four of GPF’s Good People and learn about their unique experiences, observations, and approaches to uplifting newcomers seeking better lives for themselves and their families.

Our guests include:

  • Kristen Bloom, Founder & Exec. Director, Refugee Assistance Alliance
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April 11, 7:30 pm Eastern

Don’t miss our second Good People Talk Live! event – as we explore front line challenges facing aspiring Americans across the country. Meet Kari Miller, Founder of International Neighbors; Sloane Davidson, Founder of Hello Neighbor; Kristen Bloom, Founder of Refugee Assistance Alliance; and Dr. Eva Moya, Associate Professor at University of Texas: El Paso, four women dedicated to helping newcomers adjust to their new home. Look for registration information on our website shortly.

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March 14, 7:30 pm Eastern

How Good People Help Detroit’s Youth Succeed

Join us for our first-ever Good People Talk Live! event – as we explore challenges facing inner city youth in Detroit, and how three of our GPF grantee organizations there are instilling hope.

Our guests include:

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Save the Date!

March 14, 7:30 pm Eastern

Join us for our first-ever Good People Talk Live! event – as we explore challenges facing inner city youth in Detroit, and how three of our GPF grantee organizations there are  breaking cycles and instilling a sense of future. Our guests include Courtney Smith, Founder of Detroit Phoenix Center; Sherelle Hogan, Founder of Pure Heart Foundation; and David Silver, Founder of Detroit Horse Power. Look for registration information on our website shortly.

GPF 2020 Annual Report

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During a year in which a pandemic is upending our already broken world—creating and revealing untold & unimaginable human, social, and economic challenges—our Good People Fund family has arguably never been so critical.

Our 2020 Annual Report reflects that truth and the immense nourishment and salve that our visionary grantees are bringing to their communities in the US, Israel, and elsewhere around the world.

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