MDA distributed warm clothing kits to children and youth from needy families

MDA distributed warm clothing kits to children and youth from needy families

Magen David Adom, with the support of the ICRC, led a project of support to children and youth from unfortunate families from towns in the periphery in southern and northern Israel.  

In cooperation with the welfare bodies in the municipality of Nazareth Illit and the Carmel school, families in need were identified.

MDA kits, composed of a bag, several warm clothing items, a coat and a blanket, were provided to the families by MDA volunteers in the northern Gilboa Region. According to Elad Bachar, one of the volunteers: "While processing the handing of bags and clothes, we received information about another family in need. When arriving that family's house, it was realized to us that our colleague, a very active MDA youth volunteer in the Nazareth Illit branch is one of the family members (of course, that was a total surprise for us as we had no idea of her family's poor social condition). The happiness of our supervisor was double - an act of grace aside to rejoicing one of one of his volunteers!". All the families who received the kits were thrilled from the MDA and ICRC gracious gesture, "The smiles upon the family members faces and the children's in particular, were worth it all!", in these words Lior Markowitz, the MDA local volunteers supervisor concluded the project of distributing warm clothing.

Not too far away, in the MDA Afula branch, MDA volunteers, together with the Jewish Agency and "Noam Moriah" primary school, approached children from needy families, children who are part of Jewish Agency "Opening the Future" program for- a multidisciplinary program that aims at empowering children and youth at risk, giving them the opportunity to grow and become independent and productive civilians.

MDA volunteers arrived the "Noam Moriah" school in Afula, the pupils were explained on Magen David Adom and the International Movement of the Red Cross. As described by Asaf Chen, local volunteers supervisor: "During the short presentation, one of the pupils, who was previously given the MDA kit, recognized me as the one who evacuated him in the intensive care unit a month ago. As I took his home, I understood the unfortunate state of the family. Thus, the distribution of kits as far as I am concerned, received a personal dimension and  a circle at some way came to its close.

We would like to express special gratitude to Mrs. Nurit, the director of "Opening a Future" program in Afula, through whom the link with those special children was possible, and to Mrs. Amit Yossef , the children's trustee.

At another venture, far down in the south, Shira Katiy from the Red Cross Cooperation Office, and Dani Ben Harosh from the Negev Region coordinated a visit at the Queziot detention facility, where they encountered children and youth  and gave them the kits.

Additional 70 kits were given to Palestinian workers at the Erez Crossing point during the IDF "Cast Lead" operation, whose families live in Gaza, as well as to children who were transferred to Israeli hospitals for further medical treatment.