Change is happening every day

When Leo was born with hydrocephalus and other medical complications, our lives fell apart. The first six months of his life were spent at the hospital, with my husband and I juggling shifts at his bedside while trying to balance the needs of our family back home alongside our own emotional needs. Family and friends tried to step in as much as possible, but at some point they all moved on with their lives and we were left to deal with our new reality with very little support.

We tried to manage as best as we could under the circumstances but the cracks soon began to show. Rivi’s teacher complained that he was falling behind, little Sruli’s tantrums became more frequent, and Shuli kept forgetting to do her homework. The schools weren’t happy and clearly, neither were our children.

When Lending Hope stepped in, all of that changed for the better. They arranged for a kindly young woman, Rosie, to come to our home each afternoon after school. She conversed with the kids, helped them with their homework, played games with them, and served as a calming presence that hugely impacted our entire family. We are so grateful for all that Rosie is doing and we know that none of it would have happened without your generous support.

–Esther

The day I was laid off work was a dark one. My wife was due for a baby any day and my children’s new school year was fast approaching. How would we manage to hold it together without the reliable income of a steady job? As an immigrant with little to show in the academic realm, I knew finding a new job would be a struggle.

I walked around aimlessly for a couple of days, wondering from where my next job would come and I chanced upon a leaflet about an employment support service sponsored by Lending Hope. I quickly called the number and the rest, as they say, is history.

Lending Hope arranged for me to see a guidance counsellor who helped me find a new job. They also provided me with store vouchers for vital groceries and school supplies for our daughter, so she could start school on the right foot, even though I was still without work at the time. Today I’m happily employed and I hope to be in a position where I can repay this favour very soon.

–Zoltan

In order to attend the university of my dreams I needed five GCSE passes. I studied long and hard but fell short, unfortunately. As one might imagine, I was sorely disappointed. Disappointed at myself for having raised my hopes and disappointed at my parents for not helping me as much as I thought they should.

I had been holding out hope for so many years. Hope for a better education and a better socioeconomic future than that of my parents. I had worked hard throughout my senior years. Studying, revising and completing practice papers and I really wanted to pursue a respectable career…. But now? What would be?

Lost and disheartened I consulted a friend and he put me in touch with Lending Hope. What can I say…? They really did give me hope! Lending Hope sponsored a private tutor that helped me revise all of the material again so I could retake the exam. Unbelievably, I received my fifth pass and I am not studying the college I had dreamed of attending all along. Thank you for impacting my future!

–Carl

Our ten-year-old daughter Lea suffers from a debilitating disability and she relies on a wheelchair to get around. Each morning I’d lug her chair out of the house and navigate several busy roads before getting to the bus stop that travels towards her school. The bus stop was always teeming with people and when the bus arrived the wheelchair space was often already taken, which meant we’d need to wait for the next bus, hoping the space would be available. Sometimes it was, but often it wasn’t and Lea would get very agitated.

For me, the entire morning trek was very frustrating. Not only because her wheelchair is clunky and heavy, it just mostly upset me when we needed to wait for bus after bus and Lea got so agitated that it threw her entire morning at school off kilter. Desperate, I contacted Lending Hope.

Now Lea is transported to school via a wheelchair accessible vehicle and she couldn’t be happier. The smile on her face when she leaves is priceless in itself, however, the reports from school are most gratifying as well. The teachers say she gets to school much calmer than in the past and she is much more receptive to the learning, which has resulted in a significant improvement in her academic success.

–Shira