L’Shanah Tovah!
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our world in so many ways, one thing has remained constant. People have been able to rely on Hebrew Free Loan’s ongoing presence in our community to support them in their time of need.
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I remember many of the individuals, families, and small business owners who contacted us during the first months of the pandemic. I think of Roman, for example, who requested an interest-free loan after he, his wife Liliya, and two of their seven children fell ill with Covid-19.
Roman was the family’s sole breadwinner, and he became so sick that at times he worried he wasn’t going to survive. There were multiple hospital visits, and for weeks the virus made him so weak that he couldn’t think clearly and was barely able to lift his arms.
Roman had been making a good living as a computer programmer but wasn’t able to work for two full months. As a contract employee, he wasn’t eligible for sick pay. He was doing everything he could to regain his health, but he and Liliya were falling behind on their rent and other bills. They didn’t know how they were going to sustain their family on the most basic level.
He reached out to us and within a week had received an interest-free loan that helped him and Liliya pay their bills and get back on their feet.
Now it’s over a year later, and the family is thriving. Roman expresses tremendous appreciation for the speedy and compassionate assistance his family was offered during their time of need.
“We’re grateful to Hebrew Free Loan that we could sustain ourselves and not be worrying all the time about our financial need. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our souls!”
The interest-free loan we made to Roman and his family was just one of hundreds that Hebrew Free Loan has provided since the pandemic began. Since March 2020 we have made $10.7 million in loans, which includes $5.6 million specifically for Covid relief loans.
We currently have $18.8 million in loans circulating throughout our community, which represents a 21% increase over pre-pandemic numbers. And we don’t expect the surge in demand to disappear anytime soon.
Can we count on your help to ensure that families like Roman and Liliya have someplace to turn when they’re faced with unexpected and sometimes frightening hardships? Please donate today, as generously as you can.
The pandemic has brought home to me that we never know what’s coming. Let’s commit to standing together during the coming year and continuing to do what we do best: making sure that no one has to face difficult times alone, without the support of our community.
May the New Year be a time of peace and connection for you and your loved ones.
L’Shanah Tovah,
Cindy Rogoway
Executive Director
One-Time Donation Recurring Donation