Solution

פתרון

Last time I wrote I felt I had reached an inflection point, and had begun to doubt if my efforts here were worth it.

I didn't understand that my difficulties were a sign of how badly this place needs me. (The truth is they need someone better. But I'm the one who's here.)

Since leaving the apartment I was dogsitting in I got in touch with an NGO called Lev Echad. I told them I've been in the otef half a year, have lots of experience managing volunteers and my phone is exploding with people who want to come stay for a week and volunteer but can't find any place to take them despite dozens of farmers I've personally met who want them.

It was a long and uncomfortable road and I almost backed out a few times. I still might. But I have a house in Kibbutz Sufa, a community that's been evacuated since October 7. There are spray-painted signs on doorposts left by the army as they want house to house searching for bodies or hiding terrorists. There is laundry still hanging from eight months ago.

One of my projects is to bring volunteers to repair and beautify the place before a major wave of Kibbutz residents are due to return in October. I also need to bring people to help out on local farms.

I’m in a house that was uninhabitable three weeks ago after months of neglect. Now it's comfortable and I've already hosted four volunteers. There is bed space for seven, I intend to have at least twelve for at least a few days each week. I'll sleep outside if it means another person can be activated for a few days.

There are serious problems. The Kibbutz is evacuated. There's no bus. There's no garbage collection. There was a dead bird that had nested beside the air conditioner drain pipe and I got woken up by the unit dripping dirty water on my face. The door was kicked open by a soldier on the 7th and now it's broken and doesn't really close. I'm supposed to recruit volunteers online but there's no internet. I still don't have permission to open the gate to the Kibbutz. And Lev Echad is taking weeks to figure out how to pay for groceries and I'm not getting good answers to very basic questions. While I've been solving these and more problems in the past month I've organized at least 1000 hours of volunteer service across a few communities in the Otef for busloads of seniors and birthright tourists. And I almost managed to prune all of Ben’s clementine orchards for the good of his next harvest (with help from volunteers of course).

I have an online reputation and I'm known to several organizations as a reliable contact for volunteer opportunities and to several farmers and community leaders as a good source for volunteers. It's overwhelming and I can't help everyone and it hurts to say no.

I feel taken for granted by Lev Echad. But in a few days my house - my house! - will be full of good people who I can direct to important work. So maybe this can work.

If not I think I can say that at least I tried.

עמותת לב אחד פותחת בית בקיבוץ סופה עבור מתנדבים שיסייעו להקהילה בדרום העוטף. 

הקיבוץ מוזנח מאז המלחמה ואחד הפרויקטים יהיה סיוע בניקיון ובשיקום המקום. 

נשלח גם קבוצות לעזור במשקים באזור שזקוקים לסיוע. 

מספקים צרכים בסיסיים ומזון, אתם אחראים על הבישול והניקיון. *מבקשים מינימום של 6 שעות ביום והתחייבות ל-5 ימי עבודה* (אבל נשמח אם תשארו איתנו יותר).

לרישום:

https://forms.monday.com/forms/f097f60fc9e4e6827e20c2a57c3c92b4?r=use1

לפרטים נוספים פנו לעידן: +972 50-682-3182

לקיבוץ סופה ניתן להגיע ברכב פרטי או באוטובוס לניר יצחק או לחולית. רק השער האחורי פועל כרגע: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2vcUPxAE9KtW9iBh7

18+ בלבד

Lev Echad is sponsoring a house in Kibbutz Sufa. We provide basic needs and food, volunteers are responsible for cooking and cleaning. 

The kibbutz has been neglected since the war and one of our projects will be to help clean up and repair the place.

We will also send groups out to help on nearby farms. 

We have limited space and resources so we ask for a minimum of 6 hours a day, and a 5 day commitment (but you can stay as long as you like).

Kibbutz Sufa can be reached by private vehicle or by taking a bus to Nir Yitzhak or Holit. Only the back gate is currently operational: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2vcUPxAE9KtW9iBh7

18+ only

For more: Eidan 0506823182

To sign up: https://forms.monday.com/forms/f097f60fc9e4e6827e20c2a57c3c92b4?r=use1