2024 Grant Recipients

Israel Grants

Yad Elie  $7000

Rather than stopping to contemplate the current difficult situation, Yad Elie made a decision not only to continue but to expand our activities of feeding Jerusalem school-children, making sure that every kid gets the start they deserve in life. With the help of a grant from Jewish Helping Hands, Yad Elie recently added two more schools in the poorest parts of East Jerusalem to our list of partners. East Jerusalem has been hit particularly hard economically during the Gaza war, as many residents of East Jerusalem have lost their places of employment in West Jerusalem. During the current month of Ramadan, we were able to provide food packages to needy Muslim children, sending a message of caring and openness from the Jewish to the Muslim residents of Jerusalem.

Yad Elie is also making a great effort to find new sources of funding for our project, as well as making an renewed effort to locate the neediest schools in West Jerusalem and provide them with much needed support. During a time of crisis, it’s easy to turn inwards and direct our help towards the children of “our side”, but Yad Elie’s board feels that it’s our duty to create the reality we pray for rather than accept a reality that is forced upon us. All children need to study, all children need to eat. That’s where you’ll find Yad Elie.


Jordan River Village  $1800 

In 2024, Jordan River Village (JRV) is committed to supporting 100-150 family members of hostages and returned hostages. Our initiative aims to provide these families with a nurturing, medically secure space that promotes relaxation, healing, and familial connections. To achieve this, JRV plans to provide each family a three-day stay at the Village. This includes accommodations, meals, drinks, and personalized recreational activities designed to meet the unique needs of each family. Furthermore, to ensure a comprehensive care experience, we will have medical professionals, including nurses, psychologists, and social workers, available 24/7. Their presence guarantees continuous support and care for all family members during their time at the Village. 





World Wide Grants

Humanity Relief $5000

A three-time grant recipient fighting hunger and homelessness in Chicago. The migrant crisis of asylum seekers has exacerbated an already difficult situation and quickly depleted limited resources. The JHH grant has allowed the group to continue to make purchases at Costco, which are repackaged into family and individual sized quantities of fresh fruit, chips/cookies, beverages, soap, socks, razor, hand warmers, female hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes.

Once transition housing is obtained for those on the street or in a shelter, HR shows up with starter furniture (mostly donated, some purchased), consisting of mattresses, bed frames, sheets & pillows, dressers, and basic household cleaning supplies.

Kathaana Sand Dam Farmers $5000

This report highlights the activities conducted after receiving the Jewish Helping Hands Grant. The main activities included:

  • Purchase and installation of the solar panels

  • Purchase and installation of the power controller and the solar pump.

  • Laying the pipes in the agricultural land.

  • Connection of the pipes from the water source to the storage water tanks

  • Connection of the water from the storage tanks to the farms

  • Fencing of the area for security purposes.

We have resumed our farming activities this time round using the solar as the source of power. It is very economical, very enjoyable and less tiresome. We remain very grateful for this support which shall change the livelihood of the rural community members.

Mercy for Youth and Women Empowerment $5000

The mission is to improve girl’s education and long-term health by constructing girls' toilets at Kalangaalo secondary school in the Mityana District of South-Central Uganda.  These toilets will reduce school dropout rates due to the social stigma of visible menstruation, enabling many girls to learn skills to improve their income earning potential.




Economic Empowerment for Women  $4000

JHH supported a financial education program for Ethiopian women from the Ramat Eliyahu community center in cooperation with the "Mercaz Zeirrim". The local partners requested the group also include local women not from the Ethiopian community because of the importance of integration and strengthening the community for all women.

  • 28 women took part in the program, out of which 18 were Ethiopian women

  • 100% of the participants reported receiving tools and knowledge for working with banks

  • 100% reported feeling more confident regarding financial issues.

  • 100% reported receiving tools for financial decision making.

  • 95% reported rise in self-confidence.

  • 90% reported receiving tools to understand their paycheck.

  • 95% reported being able to conduct positive communication regarding money.

Women reported: having a monthly plan; more effective time management; change of habits; receiving many small tips for everyday conduct; learning to differentiate between will and need; started taking about money at home; reduced stress about money; leaned from past mistakes; changed way of thinking; started saving; started taking responsibility; started writing down and tracking expenses and income; started planning; learned to prioritizing; goal setting; paying more attention to credit cards.

One woman summed the program up as "eye opening" and said many that the program offered not only tools and knowledge but the support of the group and speaking with other women about the sensitive topic of money as well becoming a stronger part, and even joining other programs offered by of the local community.

We hope to return for another program and expand our work to other communities as well.