Meals-on-Wheels

In February 2005 we launched our “Meals-on-Wheels” program following a donation of $50,000 for purchasing a refrigerated van.

We now distribute to poor and elderly residents hot, nutritious meals which have been prepared in our Restaurant for the Needy. These are residents who are unable to leave their homes, and who have been underserved or even ignored by the various welfare services. Most are disabled and house-bound; many have been neglected and are in a sorry state.

They each get seven meals a week. The low-salt meals have been designed for the elderly, and consist of a main course of chicken or meat patty, soup, salad, bread and rice or mashed potatoes. Our driver is accompanied on these deliveries by a volunteer, and we are recruiting and training more drivers and volunteers who will be able to spend some time with each person and offer some human comfort. We try to find volunteers who speak Russian, since the majority of our “clients” are from the former Soviet Union.

All of the recipients have been referred by the Beersheva Municipal welfare authorities. At this writing (Oct. 2005) we are now reaching 40 people, and we are gradually expanding the program. We know this is only a small percentage of the number of people who need this service.

We report problems to the authorities where we find them, and have taken on some rather difficult cases. (One mentally disturbed man had refused food from all sources until Be’er-Sova started its service.)

We provide toaster-ovens to recipients who do not have adequate means of heating up the meals, and purchase small refrigerators for those who have none, at an approximate cost of $300 a unit.

Pazgaz, the local fuel distributors, has been donating NIS 800 worth of diesel fuel a month for the van. That's nearly half the estimated fuel cost.

“A Friend to the Elderly”

Our latest volunteer project – “A Friend to the Elderly” – pairs high school students with elderly residents who are recipients in our Meals-on-Wheels program.

It has come to our attention that many of these people have no family of their own, and are terribly lonely.

The aims of the project are:

1. Provide companionship;
2. Provide basic logistic support, e.g. helping with chores, shopping, mail, health care, etc;
3. Alert us to any problems so we can inform the relevant authorities.

Following a workshop to help them get started, the high school kids their designated “sabas” or “saftas” at least once a week for two hours, and to offer a sympathetic ear and a helping hand where needed.

So far 10 kids are involved in the project, which has been organized by our social worker. They each have a personal commitment which includes writing up regular reports.