Programs

Big Brother, Big Sister

Home means homework, but there’s no one to help you.
Your parents are too stressed out, busy, sick or not even around
It would really be nice if…

     If ...

          just once your father took you outside to the park.

           If he would hit a few balls with you,

Teach you how to ride a bike,

Spend time with you and paid you a little attention.

It would be nice to have someone older and wiser to talk to and tell your problems.

It would be nice to have a Big Brother.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters are students at local high schools and higher education institutions on one-year in Israel programs who are matched to families and visit them once a week for a few hours. They help with homework, cooking or just taking the children outside to play or to talk.

Back To School Program

The end of summer approaches.

Your bank account (if one exists) is in the red.

There is no extra money to pay for the added costs of back-to-school books and supplies. In Israel, schools do not provide text books - parents have to find the money to pay for them.

Lema'an Achai enables client families to obtain the majority of the school books needed for the school year without inflicting great financial burdens. Local residents donate used books and other school supplies to needy local families, and people who buy school books at local stores generate credit for Lema'an Achai to purchase new books and supplies for client families.

Tzierei Lema’an Achai

Never too young to volunteer.

Young people in Ramat Bet Shemesh help by collecting and distributing food, selling raffles, working in the Lema'an Achai office, hanging posters, and participating in some of the programs-- such as Big Brother/Big Sister.

Our children can participate in the mitzvah (good deed) of tzedakah (charity) and become involved with tzedakah-oriented projects, either individually or through their schools or youth movements, such as Ariel, Bnei Akiva and Ezra.

Tutoring

      "I don't understand the math, so I'm not doing homework."

      "I can't read Rashi, why can't you help me?"

      "Why do I have to learn English anyway?"

Helping children succeed in school is critical to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. One of Lema'an Achai's most successful and important programs, is the tutoring program. We provide educational assistance through professional tutors to children who would otherwise slip through the cracks.

Students in elementary and high schools can receive tutoring help in all subjects—both secular and religious studies. In addition, Lema'an Achai helps provide assistance to children with special needs.

One of the most innovative aspects of this program is the employment of Lema'an Achaiclients as tutors, alongside our volunteers. We pay them an hourly wage for the tutoring which brings them a step closer

Therapy Unit

Professional guidance to gain independence

Many clients require intensive, professional psychological therapy but are unable to pay for effective treatment. We set up, oversee and help pay for such sessions with appropriate professional therapists.

The various therapies include:

• One-on-One
• Couple Therapy
• Family Therapy

Social Work Team

A team means working together.

Lema'an Achai's social workers act as a team to help our clients.

Each client is assigned a social worker to manage their case, who is their dedicated address for problems and emotional support.

Social workers interview potential clients and assess their needs. Once a determination is made as to what programs will help the family, program heads are informed and assistance begins.

Weekly staff meetings are held to evaluate progress and discuss further assistance.

Patient Advocacy Unit

Ayala Biton of Ramat Bet Shemesh, was just 10 months old when she died following heart surgery. In loving memory, her family established the Ayala Shlucha patient advocacy unit, which helps victims of serious illness.

Serious illness devastates not just the patient, but the whole family structure.

Ayala Shlucha (Patient Advocacy) steps in to provide the hurting families with the following services:

Logistical:  purchase of supplies, cooking and cleaning help, babysitters, educational support and other domestic assistance.

Financial: After assessing the family's new situation; organizing a budget covering family and patient financial requirements; presenting financing options and granting financial assistance to cover shortfalls.

Emotional and Spiritual: Guidance in obtaining welfare assistance, psychological counseling and religious support.

Legal Aid

Problem: A client is threatened: "All your possessions will be repossessed unless you repay the whole debt immediately."

Legal Aid Team Solution:

To help, Lema'an Achai has established a legal aid team of volunteers. We find that most cases can be settled with a phone call or letter. Only sometimes are there cases which require a lawyer's appearance in court.

If you wish to become a part of this program, please contact our volunteer coordinator.

Many legal problems pass through the Lema'an Achai office:

• Property law
• Family law
• Labor law

JobLink

JobLink is an employment program which lists local job vacancies taken from the local media and e-mail lists or reported by local employers. The file is available for viewing during office hours, and social workers review the file and contact their clients when they see an appropriate position.  

Interest Free Loans

On of the greatest forms of tzedaka (charity) is helping people before they fall.

Lema'an Achai has established a free loan fund for interest-free loans, to help the people in Beit Shemesh who need a financial bridge to cover a temporary shortfall. The fund offers easy repayment schedules and charges 0% interest.

Financial Planning

Would you drive a car without a steering-wheel?

Less than 10% of Israeli households keep to a budget or use basic financial management tools.

Lema'an Achai believes that the best way to help clients become fiscally solvent is by teaching them to manage their finances better.

The Financial Planning Program trains volunteers to advise clients on the management of their financial resources.

In addition, we run money management seminars for the local community.

Summer Camps

The days are hot and long and there's not much to do in the house.

It's too hot to go outside and play ball.  I'm so bored, I think I will tease my little brother and make him cry.

The three-month long summer holiday break from schools is a particular nightmare for Israeli low-income working parents, and for families in crisis with no affordable child-care options available.

If parents must stay home to care for their children, they will lose their job and salary.

Lema'an Achai's Summer Day Camp program provides daytime activities for children of all ages so that their parents can continue working throughout the long summer vacation.

Festival Aid

Rosh Hashanah, Succot, Purim, Pesach.
More to buy
Less money to buy it with 
How am I going to put food on the table?

The chagim should be a happy time. Unfortunately, many Lema'an Achai clients see the Jewish holidays as a burden, filled with the need to fund extra purchases with the same insufficient income.

Lema'an Achai's Festival Aid Program helps to alleviate some of the pressure.

• Food packages are delivered to the door.
• Extra food coupons are distributed.
• Discounts are available on holiday purchases such as matzah and arba minim.
• Donations by local merchants and the community at large are distributed to those in need.
• Volunteers help our clients to prepare for Pesach and build their Succahs

Dental Clinic

"Mommy, Mommy, my tooth hurts," cries seven year old Ella.

For the average family, dental costs are high,
For Lema'an Achai families, dental costs are exorbitant.
Most Israelis neglect tooth care,

Except for emergencies.

Enter the Free Dental Clinic, now located in the Lema'an Achai office building. We provide emergency and preventative dental care to all our families. Treatments include check-ups, cleanings, fillings and extractions, all delivered by volunteer dentists from Beit Shemesh and Ramat Beit Shemesh. We plan to provide child dental education, to teach local children about preventive dental care. Smile please!

Critical Bill Assistance

It's so dark inside--
   And so cold.

You reach for the light switch
  but the lights don't go on;

The heater doesn't work and
     even the refrigerator's reassuring hum is missing. 

A second notice came from the electric company—
   the one where they threatened to turn off the electricity 
      but there was no money to pay. 

The Lema’an Achai office receives frantic phone calls from families left without water, gas or electricity.

These families are unable to afford basic necessities and pay their monthly utility bills.  Lema’an Achai writes out checks to the utility companies to help cover our clients' outstanding bills - only one such bill is allowed every six months to prevent habitual dependence, and we provide budget counselling to help them fix their underlying financial problems. 

In addition to utility bills, Lema'an Achai also helps to cover o

Shemesh Shop

The Lema’an Achai Shemesh Shop is in the best tradition of thrift shops everywhere.

What is a thrift shop?  It is a retail establishment operated by a charitable organization. . . Thrift shops usually sell second-hand goods donated by members of the public, and are often staffed by volunteers. . . Because the items for sale were obtained for free, they can

Food Distribution Programs

Poverty and hunger are stalking the apartments on your street They can be found in regular buildings and in regular apartments Unfortunately in these apartments the cupboards are bare and the refrigerators empty. Without Lema’an Achai, these families literally go hungry.

Israel’s economy is in a depression. Unemployment stands at over 10%. The government's response—cut spending in the public sector, welfare services and allowances.

Lema'an Achai has established a number of food programs whose objective is to make sure that families in Ramat Beit Shemesh, who are suffering from poverty and crisis, will have appropriate nourishment.

The Programs:

Food Coupons:  Coupons redeemable at neighborhood stores are distributed monthly for food purchases. A discreet means  of enabling families to shop for their families. 

Food Packages:  Fresh, healthy produce and ot

School Supplies

Local businesses, residents and even out-of-country sponsors donate school supplies to Lema'an Achai—backpacks, pencil cases, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, book covers, etc., which are then distributed to clients.

If you are interested in donating school supplies for the upcoming year, please contact our office at 972-2-999-1553 ext. 101 for more details.

Club Moadon

Lem'an Achai's Club Moadon provides academic support and extra-curricular activities for 4th grade girls who have no afternoon classes. This pilot project helps children from disadvantaged homes, providing a nourishing afternoon meal, homework assistance, and safe activities under adult supervsion during the afternoons.

Financial Seminars

In conjunction with Baruch Labinsky, Financial Planner with The Financial Resource Network we offer the Morris and Lilian Rae Rosen
Financial Seminars, a popular series of Household Budgeting Seminars.

Lecture 1

"I Can Control My Money"
Home budgeting and goal setting: Learn to live on what you earn.

Lecture 2

"Stretching My Money Further"
A practical guide to reducing household expenses.

Lecture 3

"Getting Out of Debt"
How to structure and reduce your debt and get the best from your mortgage.

Lecture 4

"Improve Your Financial IQ"
Understanding how to use your resources as effectively as possible.

Lecture 5

"Financial Freedom"
Getting your savings working for you and taking control of your future.

To hear the seminars please go to http://www.lemaanachai.org/media.asp.   To receive handouts from the seminars please contact labinsky@financialresource.net.