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 Want to volunteer? Sderot's residents need you
During the past weeks, the relentless rocket fire on Sderot has made the lives of its residents insufferable. To ease their distress – and show your support – we invite you to volunteer in the town
Ynet
"The reports in the media do not portray an accurate picture of the reality of life in Sderot," said Dror Marsha, the town's volunteer coordinator. "We deal with constant stress and anxiety, knowing that a rocket might fall on us at any given moment. Daily routine is at a standstill. Yet, the hardest thing we face is the feeling we were abandoned. We know people around the world care about us and follow the events, but the thing we need most is a feeling of solidarity, the human touch."
Since the situation in Sderot deteriorated, Marsha hasn't stopped running around town, trying to alleviate fears, support and help the elderly who are particularly vulnerable, hug the traumatized children and move the disabled to shelters away from the town. Yet, he is the first to admit that as time goes by, he too needs help. "Our job turned into 100 percent emergency care," he said. "All of us, social workers, education and welfare professionals, guides in the youth centers, and psychologists deal with nothing but emergencies. The continued attacks expose us to problems we were not aware of. We want to help but don't have the time."
To assist them, and to express solidarity and support the residents, Ynet and "Ruach Tova"
organization invite you to volunteer. No need for professional experience or a long-term commitment. It's enough to visit a family, assist an elderly citizen with grocery shopping, or play with the children, to prove to the residents they are not alone. Following is a list of available volunteer projects in Sderot. Surely, you'll find one that fits you:
Home visits: Help those who fear leaving their house with grocery shopping, talk and listen to the people, show your support.
Elderly citizens: Help with chores, food and medicine shopping, support lonely people and alert the authorities in cases of emergency.
People with special needs and the disabled: There are about 1,500 people with special needs in Sderot. They need help with chores and would appreciate a visit.
Manning Sderot's 24 hours emergency center: Pinpointing needs, directing requests for assistance to the municipality and the welfare department.
Homes damaged by the rockets: Owners of homes that were hit by rockets have to clear the rubble themselves. Being there with them will help them deal with the situation and will be a great practical help.
Children: The children of Sderot suffer from anxiety and stress emphasized, in many instances, by their parents' distress. Distract them, even for an hour, by playing with them or reading a story to them.
Preparing shelters: There are 22 shelters in Sderot but only two are operational. The rest must be fixed and cleaned so they could be used.
Want to help? Email: info@ruachtova.org
and "Ruach Tova
" staff will contact you. For further information call: 1-700-505-202
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