Refrigerator for Odelia
Odelia, 56, is a single mother to three children. Her oldest son, Roi, suffers from cerebral palsy. Her other two sons are currently serving in the army.
Odelia immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe 27 years ago with her husband and baby. Odelia’s husband was violent and abusive and, after three years, the couple divorced. Odelia was left to raise three children on her own, with no family support.
When Odelia arrived in Israel, she worked as a seamstress in order to bring in an income while staying home with Roi. This was a difficult move for a woman with a Master’s degree in Music.
Today, Odelia and her children live in a tiny, government-subsidized apartment. When war broke out in the Ukraine, her sister and niece came to Israel and are now living with Odelia as well. Needless to say, the living conditions in the family’s 42-meter apartment have deteriorated further.
To make matters worse, Odelia herself suffers from physical and emotional issues. She lives with chronic back pain; in addition, she was injured in a car accident five years ago. Since then, she has been diagnosed with depression and PTSD.
Despite all of her troubles, Odelia is determined to do her best to provide for her family. She works part time as a yoga teacher and receives a monthly government stipend.
At the moment, Odelia’s most desperate need is a new refrigerator. Her current one, which she found on the street, is 12 years old and held together with duct tape.
If Odelia could get help buying a new refrigerator, she could at least succeed in feeding her family fresh food. This would go a long way towards improving their quality of life.
