Person to Person
Submitted by: Rona and Barbara Category: Caring for Jews in Need
The Big Idea
The Torah teaches us that "you shall open your hand to your brother, to your poor and the destitute in your land". In these difficult economic times there are many Jewish families and individuals who are poor or living on the edge, here in our land --our San Fernando Valley. Many people have lost their jobs and are in danger of losing their homes. Being a difficult time, people do not have as much to give as they once did either. Our Person to Person program wants to help with these problems. Person to person is a program of direct giving - like the adopt a family programs that occur around the holidays. Those in need will be adopted by Jewish organizations, schools or synagogues who will help them financially and eventually with other material donations. Small individual donations (ex. $1.00 per month per person) will turn into substantial gifts when multiplied. With the help of Rabbis and various social service organizations, candidates will be screened and chosen for the program and matched with a donor group. Our hope is that once the people in need have gotten back on their feet, they will be excited to become donors.
The Impact
Our goal is to make an impact on the in-need Jewish population in the San Fernando Valley.It is to connect as many Jewish organizations, schools and synagogues with as many people as possible. By creating a more personalized type of giving, while respecting confidentiality, people will feel like they have made a direct difference in someone else's life. Person to Person will start in the San Fernando Valley. We hope to expand to the city and other valleys. Eventually we would like to include individual donors as well.
This Is A Great Idea Because
Although there are programs similar to ours, there do not seem to be any programs that would help people on an on-going basis through an adoption process. We see our program as a way to help those that are struggling or are on the verge of becoming destitute as well as those that are already there. It is also a way to bring communities together for a common good.