On September 9, 2005JDC received a humanitarian aid cargo from the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto that included children’s, ladies and men sweaters, pullovers, pants, adult’s winter clothing and leather jackets (the total number of received units was 1,393). The aid was distributed among the Jewish organizations:Hesed Yehuda, Kishinev,Jewish family service “NES”. 14% of the humanitarian aid was also distributed among the non-Jewish population.
In these days, when the majority of the population have income below the living wage, such a generous support and assistance brought tears to the recipients’ eyes and words of gratitude to those strangers whose heart is full of compassion and goodwill.
Below are the 3 stories from those 900 for whom the humanitarian aid from Toronto made a difference.

Thank You Letter

Thank You Letter

‘On behalf of the Government of Republic of Moldova we sincerely thank you for the help you rendered to those in need. It is especially important for families at-risk, elderly, single mothers...”

V. Cristea, Vice-Prime Minister,

Commission of Humanitarian Aid Head

December 2005

Povolotsky family (Tuvye 12, Saveliy 9, Emmanuil 7)

The family consists of the parents- Mila and Andrei and three children- Tuvye, Saveliy, and Emmanuil. They all live in a one-room apartment and their housing conditions are extremely miserable: the apartment is practically unfurnished and, therefore, all the family sleeps on the floor. The financial situation of the family is critical: having no professional training, Mila does not work, while Andrei is a salesman at the market making $50 a month.

The two elder children fall sick every now and then, and parents cannot afford buying the necessary medicines for the kids or pay the doctor’s consultation. Before theLet My Children Grow program was launched, the children sometimes went to bed hungry.
Now they receive the food aid within the framework of the program; thus, the problem of food for the kids in this family is resolved.

The three children had only one winter jacket and 2 pairs of winter boots that they shared and would wear in turn; therefore, at least one of them had to stay at home while the others went out. Kids grow quickly and soon grow out of what they are wearing now. That is why family repeatedly receives humanitarian aid in terms of clothing, warm quilts and footwear. Now, the boys received new winter sweaters, coats and other clothing sent by Toronto Jewish Federation.
“It is hard to express all out gratitude and excitement when we received new and warm clothes for our kids. We could not imagine how to wear them in the coming cold period”,-said Mila and Andrei.

Arkadiy, 70 years

A retired pensioner Arkadiy lives in a small one-bedroom apartment together with his wife and son. The apartment is their property, but it needs repairs for which they have no money.
The family lives on very small pensions of Arkadiy and his wife Irina. Their son Vladimir, though he has engineering background, can find no job.
Arkadiy is a Hesed client and he is covered by the programs of food packages, supermarket sets, medication; the spouses also take part in cultural community programs.

Arkadiy received humanitarian aid – such new clothes as a sweater, pants, and a shirt. He is in high spirits thanks to a chance to update his old wardrobe.

He is saying, “I would never be able to buy any clothes like that, as the cost of a winter coat is equal to 2 or 3 pensions of mine. Lately more humanitarian aid from abroad comes to Moldova. It is an invaluable support from Toronto Jewish Federation to the members of Moldova Jewish community.”

Roman, 5 years

Roman’s parents live in a one- bedroom apartment with their little son and his old grandfather. Roman’s mother Milana does not have a job at present taking care of the child. His father Vadim, engineer by educational background, does not have a permanent occupation and is ready to do any work to support the family. The grandfather’s retirement pension of 28 USD can hardly cover utility services.

It’s beyond little Roman’s understanding why he doesn’t have enough toys and why his parents don’t buy him candies and oranges when he is asking for them. He just feels hurt and cries.

Roman’s grandfather is aHesedclient and receives from the welfare center monthly food packages and medication. Within the framework of the Let My Children Grow program Roman also receives monthly food packages.

The clothes that were handed in to Roman fit him perfectly. However, as the boy grows very quickly, he received clothes not only for this winter, but also bigger size clothes to wear the next winter. Roman’s mother can’t help crying with tears of gratitude. Roman is happy touching the new stuff he can see around him.
The family is infinitely thankful to the people from Toronto who think about them.