By Steve Kramer
KFAR SABA, Israel — Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days will soon be upon us. Michal and I wish all my readers a sweet, prosperous, and healthy New Year. That goes for all who receive my articles!
We support the Forgotten People Fund of Netanya, which has Israel’s largest Ethiopian Israeli population. Our grass roots fund, composed solely of volunteers, attempts to fill the gaps left by the city’s social services department. The ultimate mission is to help our local Ethiopian Israeli community members to better themselves. FPF depends on donations to carry on the important undertakings like assisting the community to obtain professional qualifications, such as managers, teachers, lawyers, nurses, and engineers. See the website at: http://www.fpf.org.il.
Today’s continuing worldwide economic situation has led to a reduction in donations to FPF. But the continuing need to assist our community, still suffering fallout from the Covid 19 virus, is urgent, with many of our recipients relying on minimal government subsidies.
FPF also supports many families whose “bread winners” have yet to be rehired, upsetting the fragile balance which minimum wage earners’ families barely cope with. Our Rapid Response Team interfaces with Netanya’s social workers to provide services otherwise unavailable to our community from other sources, such as money for apartment repairs, problems with the utility companies, necessary food staples, expenses for medical, vocational, or academic needs, and more.
We pride ourselves that 99.5% of our funds go directly to the families, and only 0.5% pays the obligatory statutory expenses such as annual audit, registration fees, and bank charges. FPF is just a small voluntary organization that absorbs most of its own costs, which allows us to make so much more available to our families.
Over the past 18 months we have received many requests for assistance. But without sufficient resources from contributions, FPF is unable to help. The extraordinary one-time donation we received last year from a large foundation has run out, necessitating FPF to redouble its fundraising efforts.
Please remember those who really need help to establish themselves in Israeli society. The easiest way to donate from the US is via the Good People Fund: just Click here.
If you donate via the Good People Fund, don’t forget to designate “Forgotten People Fund” under Donate Use.
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Steve Kramer is a freelance writer based in Kfar Saba, Israel. He may be contacted via steve.kramer@sdjewishworld.com