Project Spotlight: Supporting Families in the FSU

The Fellowship  |  February 15, 2022

By partnering with various organizations on the ground in the former Soviet Union, The Fellowship is able to help tens of thousands of needy Jews, including children, impoverished families, those living with disabilities, and the elderly who are desperately trying to make ends meet on little to no income. In order to survive, they receive assistance such as food and medicine as well as homecare visits and therapy, made possible by The Fellowship’s friends and supporters.

A Family In Need of Medical Care

Antonia is a good mother to her two children. She worries for them every day, hoping they stay safe, healthy, and happy. Yet her children aren’t always healthy. Their life is hard in Russia because both of the kids suffer from severe health issues, and Antonia herself has diabetes.

Antonia’s five-year-old daughter Serafima has intense asthma, only made worse by the frigid winters in Russia. Antonia prays every night that her sweet little girl will not have another asthma attack. When it happens, she must work hard to stay calm and help her daughter through, but it is very frightening for a child. Serafima also struggles with a speech impediment that has dramatically delayed her language development.

Antonia’s 22-year-old son Nikita suffers with severe back issues. Thankfully, he is doing well in school, studying IT at a university.

However, both Serafima and Nikita require expensive medications just to live. So much of Antonia’s meager income goes for that, leaving little to provide food or warm clothing for the family.

But now they have Fellowship friends around the world who love them and care for them. The family receives help paying for expensive medications. Serafima also receives high quality speech therapy, which is helping her overcome her difficulties and make up lost ground with her peers.

In fact, the family feels healthy enough to give back. They all regularly take part in Fellowship-supported Hesed programs and volunteering activities, where they help their Jewish community. We are encouraged by this family’s strength, grace, and kindness, and can’t wait to see how they continue to shine!

The Fellowship has been providing food, medicine, heat, basic needs and aliyah to Jews in need in the former Soviet Union for over 30 years, and we’re prepared for any situation the hundreds of thousands of Jewish people in that region may face. Help support vulnerable Jews with your gift of love and comfort today.