Light up a life this Chanukah and for the months to come

Eight year old Zhenya is one of the beneficiaries of WJR’s support who features in the campaign. He suffers from chronic bronchial asthma and his life depends on receiving specialist drugs that his mother, Anna, cannot afford. Since Zhenya’s father walked out, life has been incredibly hard and he has become even more sickly and withdrawn. Anna, meanwhile, a nurse, has worked herself into the ground trying to care for her son and keep their heads above water financially. She earns just £72 a month, which often means that she has to choose between buying the medicine or food: WJR’s support allows her to buy both.

WJR provides assistance to thousands of families like Zhenya’s throughout the year who live without running water, electricity or heating. Many children walk to school without boots or a coat in the freezing winter and experience constant hunger. Our Jewish Family Services programme helps families to survive by providing food, clothes, healthcare and schoolbooks. Last year in the Ukraine alone, WJR provided 1,486 food packages, 2,040 medicines, 12,722 hot meals, 4,206 food cards and 5,667 hours of home care for isolated older people.

Alongside the appeal, WJR will also be running a Twitter campaign offering top gift tips for each day of the festival from the charity’s online gift site, wjrappedup.org.uk, for those who would like to send online gift cards as Chanukah presents to friends and family. WJR’s innovative website is offering a new range of gifts specifically designed for Chanukah. From a pair of glasses for a Jewish child in Moldova (£6) to essential childcare for parents seeking employment in Moldova and Ukraine (£20), to prescription medicines for an impoverished Jewish family in former Soviet Union (£30) all of the gifts come with a card for the recipient here in the UK. There will also be the opportunity to purchase a WJR e-card for the first time so you can buy your gift and send your e-card on the same day.

Paul Stein, Director of Fundraising and Communications World Jewish Relief commented;

“This appeal specifically targets children in vulnerable families as Chanukah should be a joyful time young people no matter where they live. Our programmes are a lifeline helping to transform the lives of thousands of families like Zhenyha’s who continue to rely on WJR’s support and who urgently need our assistance during this festival and throughout the year ahead. We hope that the community here will respond generously to our appeal and help us provide the basic essentials of food, warmth and clothing that every child deserves.

”As well as donating to the appeal, our online gifts website, www.wjrappedup.org.uk also provides the opportunity for those who are buying gifts for friends and family this Chanukah to purchase a more meaningful present to help enrich the lives of the vulnerable people WJR supports across the globe.”