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On 26th and 31st July 2006, and 10th August, 2006, a total of 6 large trucks, 10 vans and 70 vehicles, laden with goods donated by KR students, KR alumni, companies, friends and members of the public, and driven by KR students, alumni and friends, set off for the north. They systematically delivered essential supplies directly to the residents of about 40 shelters in the north of Israel, housing thousands of people from weaker communities, including many Ethiopian immigrants, who need the supplies today, and will continue to benefit from them after the war.
Mattresses, fans, baby food, nappies, water, wipes, sheets, tinned foods, shampoo, soap, and more, made their environment more liveable. Computers, TVs, toys, adult and children's games, computer games, DVDs, music systems and more helped battle the boredom and tension that is one of the main enemies of many families involuntarily being thrust to live together in cramped, dire conditions, and of course, with a war on the shelter's doorstep.
The 10th August shipment was the first shipment to recognise the long period of time that many families and children in the north, had been living without the basics for weeks. In addition to the goods listed above, this shipment was the first to include a full truck load of fresh fruit and vegetables, kindly donated by 'Shuk Hasitonayim', trays of fresh bread, donated by Arc Cafe, crates of Coca-Cola and 1,000 donuts. See our Photo Album for more photos.
The initiative is driven by Ido Cohen, KR09, who is also the Israeli family representative of the Wiener Foundation. Ido, working closely with Alon Gal, KR09, rapidly built a core team, and put the first transport operation together in just 48 hours. As a result of close coordination with the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews, and also with other similar organizations, the team understood which shelters needed what items, and as a result, have been able to really deliver the most needed items, and directly to the shelters.
In addition to the above, significant cash donations have been received, in order to purchase additional supplies known to be needed, but had not been donated.
Even though it's impossible to be precise with the numbers, it is estimated that the total donations received and distributed, being a combination of donated goods and donated money used to purchase needed supplies, was realistically in excess of US$700,000! Furthermore all donated goods were distributed, and as importantly, they were delivered directly to the individual shelters that needed them, ensuring 100% of donations reached the targeted population.
Thanks !!
Due to the recent ceasefire in the region, we are pleased to confirm we are not planning another major shipment to the north, at this time.
The Aid for the North team would like to thank those of you who donated goods, who donated money, who volunteered your valuable time to manage the shipments, to load and unload vehicles and trucks, and the drivers who risked endangering themselves in order to transport badly needed supplies directly to those in the north who needed them.
Contact information
If you have a question that is not answered on this information page, please email us at north.aid@gmail.com. If you need to speak to Ido Cohen, he can be contacted directly at 052-2840176. He is inundated with calls, so please only call him if your question is not answered via this web page, or better still, SMS him.
What was recently donated?
- Quality of life: Ventilation: Fans, air purifiers/filters, mattresses, bed sheets, towels
- Electronic items: TVs, computers, DVD players, video players, CD players, radios, toasters, kettles, small fridges, extension cables, DVD disks, music CDs, computer games, computer software, VHS movies, torches, batteries, etc
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For kids: Toys, games, books, activity equipment, board games, colour pads & workbooks, paint brush & paint sets, colour pens, drawing items, drawing pads, etc
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For babies: Disposable nappies, powdered baby food, wet wipes
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Snacks: Bamba, Bizli, potato chips, sweets, nuts, etc
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Food & drink: Plastic plates, cups, cutlery, food that does not need heating or cooling (tinned food, dry foods, etc), bottled water, coffee, tea, sugar, water heaters (for coffee, etc)
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Toiletries: General toiletries, hygiene products, toilet paper, tissues, cleaning equipment and materials,
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Medicine: For children and for adults (not prescription), first aid, bandages
- Prayer: Taliyt, prayer books
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People who are willing to entertain children
In Summary
For 2 years, we've been carefully planning and building our KR Cares culture within the KR Alumni Club. Yet in 2 weeks, we've seen KR Alumni and students exceeding all expectations in caring for the weaker populations, in the north. It gives me great pride to be a KR Alumnus.
Stuart Ballan, President, KR Alumni Club, Stuart@msisrael.net
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Ido Cohen, KR09, managing the 26th July operation
Electronic goods, about to be transported north
Donated mattresses, waiting to be shipped north
Donated fans waiting to be shipped north
Toys, about to be shipped north
Volunteer drivers, queuing to transport goods to the north, 31st August
Partially loaded truck, about to setoff north
Allan Barkat & Jonathan Berger, KR02, with fully laden jeep, before setting off north
Asher Gabay and Stuart Ballan, KR04, before Asher sets off north
Allan Barkat & Jonathan Berger, KR02, distributing donated goods in the north
The kids get new games - 26th July
Ido and Micha, KR09, in a northern shelter
Jonathan Berger, KR02, demonstrating toys in the shelter - 26 July
Residents in a northern shelter - 26th July
Unloading mattresses in a northern shelter
Ido Dan (KR09) entertains
Donated toys bring a smile
Happy faces in front of the camera
Thumbnail photos 1
Thumbnails 2
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