We have an “Emergency Aid” project that helps support people in difficult situations.
A lovely and hard-working family with five children found themselves in such a critical situation. The father of the family came to us for help.
…I am forced to ask for help, even though this decision is difficult for me. I am used to being responsible for my family all my life.
In 2014 we were in a war zone in Donetsk. When the question of where to go with three children came up, we chose Israel. At first, everything was going fine: werented an apartment, started learning the language, and found a normal job. And life, interrupted by the war, began to get better. To our great joy, we had two more children already in Israel.
But everything changed at the beginning of the pandemic. The company where I was working for several years shut down and everyone was laid off. Of course, I immediately started looking for a job, but with the pandemic, it was not so easy. For the first month, we lived from small savings. To get by until unemployment benefits, pay the bills, and buy food and necessities, I took a loan from the bank. The job search stretched out for six months. The debts started to pile up, and we had our accounts blocked. But we kept our spirits up. I actively searched for a job and, six months after being laid off, I found one. But my joy was short-lived, I fell seriously ill with the crown and could not go beyond the probation period.
All the money we have earned over the past few months goes to pay off our debts and loans. We haven't paid rent in 3 months. For food, I borrow from friends.
We are now turning to a lawyer for bankruptcy proceedings. While the bureaucratic process is going on, I am doing my best. The lawyer needs to be paid, the children need to be fed and supported...
We were so moved by the family's situation that we wanted to help them get out of the financial and moral dilemma, since all of us, against our will, could end up in their shoes.
They are true heroes! They set a great example!
They are struggling with their circumstances and yet remain a strong and friendly family.