This Organization Is Helping Elderly Holocaust Survivors In Need As Winter Closes In And They Can’t Afford To Heat Their Homes
It feels unimaginable that a group of people who suffered on a scale as grand as the Holocaust would have to endure more in their lives; however, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a new set of physical, emotional, and financial hurdles for survivors today.
A 2019 study conducted in Israel found that survivors are living remarkably long lives; with an average age of 85 years old, they have consistently higher life expectancies than their Israeli peers.
Despite this visibility and their increased need during the pandemic, relatively few programs care for aging survivors.
According to an article shared by ABC News, “The cost of caring for Holocaust survivors will not abate until 2025.”
This data was found by the UJA-Federation of New York, an initiative that fundraises for survivors and promotes Holocaust awareness. In their 2020 survey of 36,000 survivors living in New York, the non-profit organization also concluded that nearly 40% lived below the federal poverty line.
These findings demonstrate the importance of supporting organizations like the Survivor Mitzvah Project (SMP).
Their new GoFundMe page describes the non-profit’s efforts to uplift Holocaust survivors as “making sure their complex medical and emotional needs are met.”
GoFundMe; pictured above is one of the survivors helped by the Survivor Mitzvah Project
SMP gives participants monthly stipends between $150-$175 to offset their living costs, including medical and electric bills, food and shelter, and other caregiving costs.
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Winter is exceptionally challenging for these survivors, who can’t afford to heat their homes as the temperatures dip below freezing in the winter.
The fundraiser created by SMP on November 2nd has a goal of $100,000, and one of the top donors is actress, neuroscientist, and Jeopardy host Mayim Bialik.
She recently shared SMP’s GoFundMe link on her Facebook page with a passionate caption; “There are Holocaust survivors who are still in Eastern Europe and preparing for a harsh debilitating winter with little to no resources. By donating we can assist them to get medication and food for the next three months.”
Both the cause and this organization are significant to Bialik. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors, and she also has a friendship with the founder of the Survivor Mitzvah Project, actress, philanthropist, and director Zane Buzby.
Still, even many small donations add up to make all the difference for these survivors.
2021 marks 76 years since the liberation of the last concentration camp, yet their occupants continue to suffer during a global pandemic.
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe created by the Survivor Mitzvah Project GoFundMe you can do that here.
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