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Israeli families fleeing to Greece in need
0% complete
$5,223 raised of $15K
46 donations
My name is Adina Danzig Epelman, and one of my lifelong friends is Ronit Nesher. Ronit is an Israeli psychotherapist who moved to Greece years ago. For many years, Ronit also has worked for years towards peace - bringing together Palestinian and Jewish women to build relationships and community across these communities in an inspiring way.
Right now, many Israeli families who have been shattered by terror, violence, death and destruction have arrived in Greece, in a state of shock. Some ran from Israel, without plans, a place to stay, or clothing. Some mothers and children have fled, leaving husbands behind who have been called up. As the war continues, more families will arrive. Ronit and some of her colleagues have organized to welcome these families and help provide them with basic needs - accommodations, food, clothing - as well as therapy as they are suffering severe trauma. She is also bringing them together as a community, helping them find support in one another. As of writing, there are 16 families with 24 children that Ronit and her colleagues are helping. They have covered some initial expenses and found a hotel to donate 1 nights' stay for each family, but they are in need of funds in the coming days to help these families until they can get on their feet.
Two of the families fled from Kibbutz Be'eri, having lost scores of their closest friends to unspeakable violence, and having lost their homes and entire community to destruction. The parents and children are traumatized. What these families experienced is unimaginable.
I offered to help try to raise money to help cover immediate costs of accommodations, food and clothing. Ronit is also trying to prepare 'welcome packages' so that additional families that arrive have some basic supplies right away.
UPDATES:
- It costs about $1,000 to rent a place for one family for a month in Paros, Greece, where these families have arrived. We are hoping to be able to set up homes-away-from home for these families who are going through trauma.
- Thanks to the first outpouring of support, I just transferred $2,000 to Ronit so that she can provide for them. She is putting together a list of exactly how the money is being spent, and I'll keep updating here. We are hoping to reach our goal of $15,000 with your help.
Please give what you can, and Ronit and I will ensure that all of your dollars go to help these families until they can figure out their next steps. I am offering to raise the money here in the U.S., because gofundme does not allow funds to be raised in the country of Greece, where Ronit is based. I will transfer the funds directly to Ronit, and we will cover the financial transfer costs, so that your dollars will go directly to pay for housing, food and clothing.
Thank you so much.