לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט אַשְּׁרוּ חָמוֹץ שִׁפְטוּ יָתוֹם רִיבוּ אַלְמָנָה: (ישעיה א:יז)
Learn to do well, seek justice, vindicate the oppressed, plead the cause of the orphan and widow. (Isaiah 1:17)
One of our most important projects at The Chicken Soup Shelter is supporting families who are experiencing a crisis, and need extra help to ensure that their family life does not unravel. We help dozens of widows and orphans, as well as families where a parent is suffering a mental health crisis or has become suddenly unemployed.
The subsidies that we provide to these families give them the ability to maintain a dignified family life during these upheavals. When families in crisis have the security of knowing that the costs of food and decent accommodation are covered, they have the space to take the action they need to improve their situation. Intervention at crisis points is often instrumental in helping families stay together, avoiding untold pitfalls in future years.
In addition to the practical support that this programme provides to widows, orphans, and families in crisis, they are also consoled by the knowledge that they are not alone. Experiencing support from others helps these suffering people to look forward to the future with hope.
