It's not my turn

by Shalvi Waldman

0 Comments | Sunday, January 18, 2015 under Clothing and Shoe Exchange

Winter Warmth Campaign - Help us distribute winter blankets, children's winter coats and radiators

A young man named David* volunteered to help Yad Eliezer. As he was working together with Motti, one of the staff members, he paused to call his mother. When his younger sister picked up the phone, David asked why she wasn't at school. She just said, "It's not my turn." Since the call was on speakerphone Motti couldn't help but overhear the conversation. And he couldn't help but wonder what it meant. Motti and David continued working side by side for a few more minutes until Motti could no longer contain his curiousity.

"What did she mean when she said that it isn't her turn to go to school?"

"Never mind."

A few minutes later David unburdened himself. "It's like this. I have three sisters. Together they have two coats. On a day like today it's impossible to go out without a coat. So they take turns staying home."

***

Miriam is responsible for the 'lost and found' at Yad Eliezer's Armonot Wolf wedding halls. She was cleaning up the lost and found, and looking for any items that had clues that would help her to return them to their owners. She found a book with a name and phone number inscribed, and called the number. A woman answered the phone, "Yes! That must be my son's gemara! He's been looking for it. I'll come and pick it up later today."

The details were arranged, and Miriam assumed that the matter was closed.

Until the same woman called her back the next day. "Miriam?"

"Yes?"

"Um, you called me yesterday about the book that my son left at the wedding hall?"

"Yes, did you find it?"

"I did. And um, I noticed there that there are some used girl's jackets. I'm embarrassed to ask, but do you think that if the owners don't pick them up in another couple of weeks I could take them? My daughters don't have coats and its very cold..."

***

These are both true stories. They both took place during the past week.

Yad Eliezer distributed 6,000 winter blankets, 4,500 children's winter coats, and 800 radiators through Winter-Warmth Campaign. We thought we were finished for this winter. But the calls kept coming in. People were simply begging for warmth in their homes. So of course we couldn't say no! An additional 350 radiators were ordered and distributed. We thought we were finished for this winter. But now there are more coats on the way...

*Name has been changed to protect privacy

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