Beds for Rinat and Moshe’s children

Rinat, 43, and Moshe, 39, are struggling. Both immigrants from Ethiopia, Rinat and Moshe are raising three young children, ages 4-11. Moshe is a factory worker, and Rinat is currently unemployed. She receives a disability stipend because she is visually impaired, but the two incomes don’t cover the family’s basic monthly expenses.

Rinat and Moshe’s youngest child, Ela, was born with a chronic genetic syndrome that involves extensive physical and developmental difficulties. Rinat stopped working after Ela was born in order to focus on her needs. Ela’s medical care, transportation costs to and from the hospital, and the loss of Rinat’s wages have all combined to put the couple in dire financial straits.

When social services visited Rinat and Moshe’s apartment, they found it in shambles – unpainted walls, broken washing machine, leaking refrigerator, broken kitchen units and old, shaky beds with torn mattresses. Rinat was visibly embarrassed at the state of her children’s beds but explained that they simply don’t have the money to buy new ones. Like all children, Rinat and Moshe’s kids deserve a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, their parents cannot afford to give them one.