Support Families with Special Needs in Palestine

In these times of Covid, the family support group created with gifts from GlobalGiving Donors has been indespensable to our families by providing spport and breaking their senses of isolation and being overwhelmed.

As the tight closures were beginning in Mid-March, and people were ordered to shelter in place rater than go to their jobs, family members of 2/3 of our residents chose to use the opportunity to have them home and celebrate Ramadan with them for the first time for many years.  The expectation was that in May, life would 'return to normal' and the residents would return.

Sadly, the virus is still raging, cities locked down at times, and the Homes have maintained their strict quarantine despite enomous pressure from the families, a few of whose members have managed to return to employment

The lifeline for a number of these families has been the check-ins from our acting director and social worker (co-leaders of the group) and communication  between families--generallly by phone, in one-on one calls to share support and ideas on how to manage the challenges of caring for their disabled loved one. Had the group not been formed, it is highly unlikely that the families would have felt comfortable reaching out to one another!!

 Since it is sadly obvious that Covid-19 is not leaving soon, the Homes will be formalizing the parents' group meetings into smaller groups (because of frequent unreliability of the the internet there) via WhatsApp.

The support by the group that you provided has been essential, especially for those families who have not had their loved one at home for more than a few days for many years--if ever!

If you can, please continue to support us and keep these groups going.

On behalf of all at the Homes, our deepest thanks.  

Please stay safe!

Blessings!!

Liz