Greetings!
Greetings from Jerusalem! It's been awhile since you've heard from us. We sent a bunch of neighborhood kids to camp this summer, and then Dov, the kids and I headed to the States for over a month. When we returned to Israel in late August, we put our hands to the plow and began working on our fall programs. The Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Succoth all fall in September this year, so we have been busy meeting the needs that always arise during this season. |
| STRONG BEGINNINGS PROGRAM | |
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We believe that every child has the right to start the school year strong, with every advantage on his side. We make this belief a reality by providing needy children with gift certificates to a local school textbook and supplies store. The average child has to spend at least $200 per year for these essentials.
So far this year, we have given out over $7,000 worth of these certificates. At the end of every summer, each child in our Family Sponsorship Program receives $200 for school books and supplies. Of course we receive many requests for assistance from families that are not in our Family Sponsorship Program, and we always do what we can to assist these families as well. So far, we have been able to give everyone who has asked some sort of assistance, and the requests keep coming in!
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| SUCCOTH FOOD VOUCHERS | |
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As with virtually every major holiday here in Israel (save Yom Kippur when fasting is the rule of the day), Succoth is a time to gather with friends and family in your succah and eat.
Again, we provide the children in our Family Sponsorship Program with food vouchers (pictured above) to a local grocery store prior to Succoth every year.
As with the requests for assistance for school books and supplies from those folks not in our Sponsorship Program, we always receive rather frantic pleas for help for food as well. We try to keep a bit of a stock-pile of these certificates in Dov's office for pleas such as these. Dov has yet to turn someone away this year empty-handed. |
| VISITORS | |
| This September MBKI is seeing an influx of visitors to Jerusalem from places as varied as St. Louis and Switzerland. We also have a large group coming in from all over the USA that will take a break from the tour bus and use MBKI as a bridge to see the reality of life on the streets.
It is a busy and exciting time for us, and we want to thank each and every one of you who has made a donation to MBKI. Without your generosity, our programs would simply be unrealized dreams. |
