Aid to the families of reservists - the anchor - a national organization for reservist families

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(live here in the community) - The desire to help the families of the enlisted reservists awakened the need for a support organization, one that knew how to respond to those who want to volunteer to help the families of the military men and connect the volunteers to all the families according to their needs, whether with the children, with the maintenance of the house or any other help that is required when one of my children The couple serves in the army and the other is left alone to maintain the house and family. The "Anchor for the Reserve Families" organization was established on 7/10, on the basis of a similar organization that operated in Jerusalem at Tzuk Eitan.

(It was written in collaboration between Tami Goldstein and Tal Kizman)

Managers who work voluntarily

In the background of the alarms and the bans on gatherings, Tal Kizman, my co-author of the article, and I met the principals, on Zoom.

I'll start by saying that in this organization, the activity is all voluntary, through managers who work voluntarily in every settlement or neighborhood who coordinate between the volunteers to help and the families who ask for help. Most of the managers have a husband in the reserves, they keep in touch with the families of the recruits and the goal is to help with everything needed: with the children, a meal, cooking, taking the dog for a walk, handling breakdowns, talking, and giving them the feeling that someone hears them and is there for them. In fact, only the head of the association and three activities at the headquarters in Jerusalem are paid and all the rest are volunteers.

On the website of the "Anchor for Reserve Families" you can find forms to register both as volunteers and as a family that has one of its members in the reserves and requests help in any field they choose.

Adjust volunteering to needs

Tal Kizman asked to volunteer for the security forces and discovered the organization "The anchor for the reserve families", a voluntary organization that works at eye level, without hierarchy and almost without advertising.

The "Anchor for Reservist Families" organization is operated by volunteers throughout the country, and the partners in Haifa include the Municipality of Haifa, the Technion, Beit HaLochem, and other organizations. In Haifa and Kiryat Shmuel, about 565 families are members, where 70 volunteers cook for the families every week, and are supported by about 500 other volunteers who help in various fields.

Answering about 18,000 families

The organization began its activities in Jerusalem at Tzuk Eitan, initiated by Rachel Azaria, who was an MK and a former member of the Jerusalem City Council, and it currently provides a response to about 18,000 families throughout the country, divided into regions, where each region has its manager and volunteers. It is important to note that The managers work on a voluntary basis. The funds for the activities come from donations, and are used for choppers for families and for organizing events for them.

The organization always needs new volunteers

Ayelet Korn Steiner, one of the volunteer managers in Haifa, emphasizes that the organization always needs new volunteers, and everyone can offer their help in different areas according to their skills and availability. The volunteers fill out forms on the organization's website, and this is how the connection between the families and the volunteers is made. There is a website, and on the website there are forms that can be filled out for the volunteers and for the families. Volunteers can register in which field they would like to volunteer. Anyone who wants to volunteer and is reading this article, can fill out the form, which is attached at the end of the article, and the administration of the anchor for the reserve families will be in touch with them, they will match the volunteers with a family that needs exactly what the volunteer has to offer.

The information about the reserve families

Noa Belter, a volunteer manager in Haifa tells about the journey: "Initially most of the volunteers were students, but when the semester started they had to leave. Around January I andSarah Vogel We took the baton, with a gap of 3 weeks. We had to respond to everyone who registered during this period, which is a lot of work.

The army and the municipalities do not pass on lists of reservists and families asking for help, because they are not allowed, so it is passed by word of mouth. It is difficult to locate all the families. We are reaching families slowly, it is gaining momentum, and we also do promotions that encourage registration, such as giving away pizzas. There is a registration form on the website of the "Anchor for the reserve families", and it is important that this information be distributed so that we can help as many families as possible.

From cooking to babysitting

Orly Modiano, The director of the North Governorate: "The association currently helps 18,000 families throughout the country. We are there not only during the recruitment, but also in the small moments, when the husband returns home before the next recruitment." The organization offers various services, from help at home, meals to emotional and mental support for those who need it . The organization has a small budget and every holiday every manager in every city decides what gift they want to give. Ice creams, cakes, pizzas, every holiday with its gifts.

Food boxes for families

Shulamit Bar-El She is the link between the anchor families of the reservists, and local organizations such as Moriah Rotary, Beit HaLochem and the "Together for the Lonely Army" association. Every week she collects from an association together food boxes for the reserve families and distributes herself and with the help of volunteers all over Haifa.

Cooperation with businesses and municipalities

Sharon Zeevi, the representative of the Reserve Women's Forum in Haifa, emphasized the cooperation with the Haifa municipality (education, welfare, and psychological service departments), which was expressed in events and individual meetings with psychologists on behalf of the psychological service. In addition, supporting partners are the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, "Tiv VaTaim" catering, Beit Dina, Beit Shila, Shmo Confectionery, Mekor HaGalida, Ariel Bakery, and more. At the national level, there is a connection with the organization "Makshivim" and there are other important partners along the way.

Assistance tracking system

Among the volunteer managers we met Gabi Chen, who works together with her husband in the family's accounting firm, but volunteers long hours as a manager at "The Anchor for Reserve Families".

Gabi Chen: "The volunteers help in every area - from cooking to looking after the children. This is a life's work for us. Technically, we use a system that keeps track of the assistance needed and who received what. A system that gives an indication of the families' situation.

We organized gift sets, volunteers during the holidays, because it was heartbreaking to see families waiting for a father or a husband on the eve of a holiday and then he was drafted again and could not be with the family during the holidays. We tried to organize things that would sweeten this bitter pill. We are always on it. It's almost a full-time job. It fills the heart and contributes to the personality. Among us there are self-employed, retired women, there are women on sabbatical, on maternity leave.

There are children at home, there is work, I have a son in the army and a second son who is about to enlist. We are all volunteers. The managers are available all the time and receive inquiries and provide help. If it's a listening ear or someone needs a meal because she's collapsing."

"The managers are always available, which is lovely in my opinion," Gabi says and adds: "Those who want to volunteer write down what they can do - cook, babysit, help with homework for the children, many areas. You can volunteer at any given stage. Each volunteer accepts the families she can to benefit them in their area."

Sacred lessons with a father volunteer

The organization provides an immediate response to any requirement. We are almost like a matchmaking agency. Each request is registered and uploaded in the WhatsApp groups, and the connection between a family and a volunteer is made according to proximity of residence and according to matching needs and response. The goal of the organization is to provide a response to the daily needs of the families while one of the spouses is mobilized, including cooking, babysitting, home maintenance and general help.

Moore Brand, is a mother of 4 children from Kiryat Shmuel, and is a volunteer manager together with Ranit Kastner in the Kiryat Shmuel area. "With us it's different from Haifa because it's one neighborhood where everyone knows everyone. All the families and all the volunteers," she says.

"Initially today there were 140 families of recruits in Kriya and today there are 60-70. There are several projects such as a project of breakfast in the sukkah for families of recruits with young children, a project of dinners, a treat before Shabbat and the holiday - fruits, cake, chocolates, flowers, and the like Every family receives a non-permanent adoptive family that pampers them for Shabbat when needed, like a father who volunteered to help a father's child who enlisted.

The boy was used to studying with his father both sacred lessons and regular lessons and the volunteer father, studied with him, accompanied him, while his father was in the reserves. We are there for the families. If it's a babysitter, if it's meals, it mostly depends on the needs that come up all the time.

"The bulk of the recruits are national religious, and there is also someone ultra-Orthodox who we found out at the age of 30 went to the military and we tried to support his wife, even though he needed special qualifications. We found the appropriate solutions. There are quite a few recruited Chabadniks, and there are about 10 families of Chabadniks In Kiryat Shmuel it is easier to locate the families because we are in contact with the schools and kindergartens to know that we have not missed anyone.

"The youth in Kiryat Shmuel also help. Whether it's building Sukkots and dismantling Sukkots, preparing dinners and distributing them to families in a beautiful box, or anything they can help with. Before Rosh Hashanah, the community donated money. We used the donations to facilitate the preparations for a dinner before the holidays, Because they are older women, and sometimes we ordered pizzas. We bought bouquets of flowers with the money left over and the youth gave out a note to the families, to say how much we appreciated them , so we did it in stages and I went out with them. They are ready and want to help."

The doctor who takes care of the meals

Another manager we met is Dr. Hani Kellner - Nahum, A doctor on maternity leave, a mother of 5 children who founded the meals project.

"It all started when my husband was transferred to the reserves in Simcha Torah, and in the middle of the reserves I gave birth to our fifth son. He came to give birth and immediately returned to Gaza after the birth. At that time there were families from the Neve Shanan neighborhood who brought us meals. Every day a different family brought us a meal, and this was really They brought the food because of the birth, not because of the reserves, but the need was high because I was alone and I couldn't organize to have food ready in time for all the children.

"When my husband finished the first period of the reserves, I thought it would be nice if more families would have food when the spouse was in the reserves. I started sending out an ad in Neve Shanan with double links - a link for families and a link for cooking volunteers, and I would match them according to the proximity of their residences and their desire for the type of meal: meat, dairy or fur.

Towards the end of January, requests from other neighborhoods in Haifa started creeping in. I wondered what to do with it and then I simply wrote to Rachel Azaria, who started the anchor associations to help the reserve women in Jerusalem, through Facebook. We talked and then she told me you actually do the role of manager at "The Anchor". I said no, I'm not a manager, and she said don't panic, we just call it that. Then I joined. At first we were a small team and now it's in all the neighborhoods in the city. Today there are between 40 to 50 families who receive assistance with food boxes or a hot meal cooked by volunteers. It all started with them bringing me food."

Enthusiastic reactions from the families of the reservists

We collected a few of the dozens of responses received in the WhatsApp group, as well as one song written in honor of the association, to show how much every giving, every action, even if a seemingly small action, is a great help and a very meaningful thing for the families.

"When I discovered the anchor, I was skeptical, but I soon discovered that it is an amazing lifeline! Especially help with food - getting a fresh and pampering meal is very significant. It makes me and the children happy and allows us to deal better with the difficult situation.

My husband has been enlisted for a year on and off, and I am an essential employee and therefore continue to work continuously. We are lovingly raising four children, each with their own needs. When I discovered the anchor and saw that I could receive assistance, I discovered an amazing organization with great volunteers. In every matter that I contact, the managers answer politely, with respect, with an understanding of the complexity of the situation, always attentive and sensitive that it is really not obvious. The help is very significant. It allows me time to free up time to play with the children, or to deal with what the house needs, and without the help I wouldn't be able to do it."

"An opportunity to say thank you for the blessed work, with lots of female power, love, and mutual support.

Thank you thank you, I have no words to express how meaningful it is, the very fact that once every few days someone asks how I am, but really wants to know how I am, understands the difficulty so much. This gives us the strength to continue supporting my husband and face the challenges of the time."

"I benefit the most from helping with food, knowing that there is one meal a week - fortnightly that we receive fresh and pampering food is very significant. It allows me to free myself up for other things, to be freed up for the children. These treats make the children the happiest in the world. To receive a treat, to know that they are seen and Their difficulty, they feel appreciated for their survival in the process of family change, which is so significant. Every now and then we get all kinds of extra treats - like a fun day at the pool, an amazing mini golf, and it's really happy. Thank you very much to everyone who does the work! And to all the amazing managers here who are doing holy work regardless of surprises or gifts or choppers (which are always nice to receive), the very knowledge that there is an anchor if and when needed is a blessing and helps you have no idea how much! Really a big anchor in this complicated situation The amount of help and consideration and your listening ear is not taken for granted at all."

"My husband has graduated from almost every operation and war since he finished regular+permanent service in 2001 (!) When my children were tiny, I was left alone with my thoughts, worries and the need to continue managing a routine at home and at work. You are the group I was missing then to consult, share, cry, lift, Be encouraged and the range of emotions know that everyone who is involved in the management of the group is doing holy work.

"Three weeks ago, I was called from my grandmother's kindergarten, that they think she has a broken toe and I should come because it needs to be checked. I went to pick her up and we went to trauma in Linn. We went into the orthopedics with a toe that was already a little purple, he glanced at me and said: It's not a fracture, it's an infection , now you're going up to the emergency room at 3:13 p.m. I'm at a loss to take the little one (half a year) and then I decided to call Sharon, the amazing volunteer of The association didn't have to ask. She told me I was on my way to the emergency room. I'll be with the little one. She left with less than an hour's notice."

"To the dear volunteer, I want to express a huge thank you, for the rescue, for the giving, for unparalleled concern, for coordinating all the dozens of volunteers who came to our house during the harsh weeks, for every hot dish cooked wholeheartedly for the children's tastes, for every bedtime story reading in order to maintain The routine of the children during the time when Dad was in the reserves. Your mobilization and the women of the anchor were a pillar of light and a warm embrace in the days of trembling, cold and much darkness. I bless you and everyone who was there for me and for the children, in the blessing of a year of good news The abductees to our country."

"To the team of anchor coordinators and to all the amazing volunteers! My name is Anat, Moore's partner and mother to Jordan(4) and Noga(1). I met the anchor by chance through a friend when Moore was recruited for the second round. I can't believe that this is how a set of volunteers from all over the city was woven for him. We opened In front of a window of amazing people and women who want to support and help, whether it's through advice or actions. Every meeting brings a smile and help, every enrichment activity is a great opportunity to say thank you For the initiative and the activity throughout this year. I hope I can send you the strength to continue doing as you tirelessly send us the families!"

How do you join?

If you are also a family where one of the parents is enlisted, or you want to volunteer, you are invited to go to the "Anchor for Reserve Families" website, fill out the forms. The volunteers write down what they are willing to help with, the family writes down what they need help with, and a volunteer is matched with a family. The connection is fast and great, almost instant. The volunteer gets in touch with a family from the area closest to her, and connections are made.

Here are the details for joining: