Public schools here in Israel do not provide their students with textbooks or any school supplies.  In the summer, well before the start of each school year, parents are provided with a comprehensive list of books, workbooks and specific school supplies that children are required to purchase for the start of school. 

 

Dov and I have two children in the Israeli public school system, so we are very familiar with the process and the expense.  School books alone average at least $120 - $150 per child.  To that expense add the cost of notebooks, markers, backpacks, pencil cases, scissors, etc and it's no wonder that parents are already calling (it's only July) totally stressed out about how they are ever going to manage to afford everything on the list for all of their children.

 

Through our Strong Beginnings Program, we endeavor to help as many children as we can start the school year "strong."  We do this by providing parents with a gift voucher to a specific store near the projects redeemable for school books and school supplies only. 

 

I know that I like to have my kids squared away with their books and supplies long before school starts (last minute shopping and crowds is not for me), so we endeavor to provide this same "luxury" to our needy parents.  Our niche tends to be single-parent families and because of the current economic situation the needs are more dire than ever before.  Add to that the fact that Jerusalem, according to Business Week, is the 27th most expensive city in the world (yes, I said world) to live in, and I'm sure you can imagine the plight our parents are facing.

 

We would like to invite you to help us help these parents.  Obviously, we would like to help as many children as we can to have a Strong Beginning this school year.  Any amount you can send will help.  Our goal is to issue these certificates to parents before 21st August (school starts on September 1st).

 

You can either donate via PayPal by clicking on the following link:  Strong Beginnings Donation that will take you to our website where you can then click on the "Donate" tab, or you can send a check to our PO Box in Nashville, TN.  In either case, please indicate that the donation is for our Strong Beginnings Program.