About
Profile association
The city of Sderot was established in 1951 and got its name after the eucalyptus avenues that were planted along the city, whose planting gave the citizens something to do. The city was established as a development town and its citizens were meant to work in light and heavy industry. Since 2001 the constant missile shooting on Sderot has caused a deterioration in the financial situation and jobs of the citizens of the city.in Sderot there are several populations, some are in lower social economic level. The security situation and missile shooting on the city has worsened their emotional state and following that the financial state.
Mercaz Hesed Sderot
In 2001 the Mercaz was established. in the beginning it served a small number of families that needed help urgently. Over the years the doing expanded to many categories and various branches of kindness. food baskets and warm meals are delivered, as well as clothes and furniture for the poor, lending of necessary medical equipment, lending equipment for special events and more. The Mercaz Hesed is a non- profit organization that is run by volunteers with a lot of soul. The mercaz's activity is done with full cooperation with the welfare facilities in the city in order to make sure that the help and recourses are going to the right people.
CEO's say
Mercaz Hesed Sderot in my opinion is a gem of kindness inside the city that has been run by volunteers from different parts kinds of populations. The Mercaz helps hundreds of people who reach out in a variety of categories with main flagship being distributions of rations to the needy. The Mercaz Hesed has a crucial part in the city since the citizens are suffering several years from the missile attacks on the city and their consequences of a long difficult security situation, that impacts a lot in their lives. In my opinion it is our job as a society to help one another and make sure no child has to go through this kind of experience of sleeping on an empty stomach when they can't find food, in the sense of " a man shall help his friend and to his brother will say stay strong".
What strengths me is seeing circle of friends from all around the country and the world that care and help as much as they can who lend a hand during this difficult time. Another thing that excites me and warms my heart is seeing volunteers coming to run the place all days of the year at all kinds of weather and feel a commitment to the place, a commitment of family. Not too long ago the Mercaz was on the verge of closing due to financial breakdown.
There are no words to express the heartache you feel when seeing this enormous factory that cares for poor families in the city about to come down before your very eyes. The keys were already in the door and just a moment before, with the support and encouragement of those charitable men of measure we were able to get back up on our feet although the danger of closing still is hovering over our heads. In my personal opinion the Mercaz is my life's work and my life's desire. The nonstop ongoing activity fires up inside my bones to continue and keep going to promote it. my biggest dream is that the place will slowly shrink and hopefully close because there won't be a need for it, unfortunately it seems that there is vision for the time, and right now our hope as a standard society is to continue the work and improve it and help as many families as we can to prevent financial breakdowns.
These days we are working to recruit more and more people that charity goes through their veins and wish to lend a hand and give it the financial security it needs to continue helping those who need it, I will be happy to see each and every one of you as partners in the amazing work done in the place.
Avichai Amusi
CEO of Mercaz Hesed
Sderot
