Imagine this scenario: Your friend calls you in the middle of bath time and you’re about to tell her to call you back later, when you notice the slight tremble in her voice. “What is it?” you ask softly. Her response astounds you, making you wish you didn’t ask, but also wishing you could help. Behind on her rent, her landlord has been sending her eviction notices for the past two months, but even worse, the food stamps she has been depending on were just terminated with no warning. Now, with an empty fridge, she pleads, “Can I come by to borrow a carton of eggs and bread?”
“A carton of eggs and bread?!” And that is just for one night—for food. What about the rent, utilities, phone bills, gas, insurance, school trips, clothing, etc.?
Most of us have never experienced the painful feeling of receiving such a pitiful call. But that’s not because our friends do not need the help. It is because they are embarrassed to ask you, and so an increasingly overwhelming number of our community members turn to Achiezer when facing a financial crisis.
The bad economy has affected all of us in some way, but there are many people whose lives have changed drastically. Proud people who used to have decent jobs, even prestigious positions, now find themselves behind on their payments and asking help from the same organizations they used to support.
These are the people we know, the people we see all the time, the people we care about. We meet them in shul and wave to them in the street . . . we talk to them about silly things and then go on with our busy lives.
The problem is that most of us never hear about these crises because our friends are afraid to ask, ashamed of themselves and their financial situations. This is a community that cares and we would all be honored and grateful to be able to help these people.
But who are they? And how do we know that they really need the help?
Achiezer has become a source of support and direction for many people, and they do their best to help cope with their individual situations. With confidentiality and discretion, Achiezer will address employment and budget counseling, as well as guide people to the appropriate social services programs. Additionally, Achiezer enrolls them in affordable insurance programs and refers them to existing services and organizations that can further alleviate the financial stress.
But the calls for help with bills and expenses keep coming without relent. While the mission is not to simply write checks and pay these bills, there will be the occasional stock of groceries, co-pay for a badly needed doctor’s visit, or even the lack of funds for a child’s warm winter coat.
Achiezer is redefining the concept of chesed with dignity by doing anything and everything for families in our community in need. Until now, a small group of generous individuals and local stores have graciously stepped up to help. But with the volume of crisis calls rising, funding these specific cases has become impossible. To cover this expanding need, Achiezer is turning to the public for help.
This week, Achiezer is launching Community Cares, a bold new initiative to allow anyone to participate in this critical effort of helping our neighbors. A breakthrough in local, grassroots tzedakah, Community Cares will give caring individuals the chance to get involved and assist families with their necessities. Being local and discreet, this fund enables you to give tzedakah in one of the highest forms possible.
Participants may join by committing to a $5 weekly donation. Achiezer will have it automatically processed through a credit or debit card.
The launch event for women takes place this motzaei Shabbos, February 4, at 8:00 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Machi Muller (21 Park Circle in Cedarhurst). It will be an enjoyable evening to mark the beginning of a beautiful new facet to our community’s chesed efforts.
The Community Cares Fund is the local fund connecting your tzedakah dollars directly with the people who need it most—where a $5 donation each week can become the profound relief for which our friends yearn.