Testimonials
April 24, 2020
Where do I begin. It has been a very difficult couple of years for myself and my son. First I lost my husband after a 13 month battle with Glioblastoma. I kept thinking I can handle everything myself. And then COVID19 changed our world forever. On Sunday, I lost my father after a 3-week battle with this horrendous virus. So now I am at home with my 5 yr old, doing Zoom Shiva and I am unable to go out to get any food. That's where a Fountain of Kindness stepped in to save me. First, it was prepared food delivered to my doorstep. Then it was a gift basket of toys for my son who has lost so much in these last few months. And then today, the unthinkable. I opened my door to enough groceries to last me a lifetime as well as prepared food for Shabbat. This organization and everybody who contributes with either donations or volunteering their time has been such a lifeline for me during this unspeakable time. I wish there were enough words for me to say to express how thankful I am that there are so many wonderful people who are thinking about others even during this extremely stressful time for everyone. My stress level is at an all-time high and knowing my fridge is full and my son will have everything he needs for weeks to come has brought me a tremendous amount of relief. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Miriam Norensberg
I got involved with fountains of kindness a little over a year ago. I was hit by a car, and my children and husband witnessed everything. They saw me lifeless on the ground and taken away in an ambulance. Once I came home, Someone reached out to me and asked me if it’s ok to make something for my children to make them happy again. When the baskets were dropped off their eyes lite up and my husband said this was the first time the smiled and were happy in over a month. I told myself, if my children were this happy by an act of kindness, I will try my best to pay it forward and try and make anyone feel happy.
- Nava Barelli
Several months ago, a family was unexpectedly hospital bound for shabbat due to the sudden illness of their father/husband. Fountain of Kindness was looking for a volunteer and I accepted the task of picking up the order from a local restaurant and making the delivery to the hospital on a busy Friday afternoon.
The family members were physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted from already having spent several hours at the hospital. Not only were they beyond overjoyed by receiving warm, fresh, kosher food as they prepared to endure an uncomfortable shabbat at the hospital, but they were even more relieved at the fact that they had company visiting them. They expressed how good it felt to have someone to talk to, to laugh with and to forget their woes for just a few minutes. They told me, they hadn’t laughed or smiled since the incident had occurred & having visitors is what managed to change their mood as they entered a very critical Shabbat next to their loved one.
Thank you to Fountain of Kindness for allowing both myself and the family to feel all the feelings that came with this experience. I will continue to support the work that Fountain of Kindness does, as there is nothing more important than helping others who are in need. Their mission is very important to me and to my family. Let’s work together to continue volunteering & making donations to Fountain of Kindness. Volunteering for them was an incredible experience that comes with so many rewards for both the recipients & the volunteers.
- Nabila Levian
A simple thank you is hardly enough.
This week, I received the most beautiful basket from Fountain of Kindness; you truly brought light into what has been the darkest period of my life.
Three years ago, I was the picture of health; I was a teacher, an athlete, and a devoted daughter, friend, and community member. I used to host Shabbosim at my home, travel the world, and volunteer my time to various chesed organizations. Today, after suffering from major surgery which went awry, and from central nervous system Lyme Disease, I rarely leave my home. Waking, cooking, speaking, writing my name: things I used to take for granted daily, are monumental tasks. This week, the inimitable Ayala delivered the most beautiful basket to me from your organization. She also brought the ingredients for me to take challah, and patiently helped me relearn how to make the dough which helped me usher in Shabbos for so many years. Thanks to Ayala, I will have challah on my table this shabbos - the first time since May 2015. Various individuals from your wonderful organization have reached out to visit me, and I cannot tell you how much this means. Being with people again makes me so, so happy. I also have things in the basket you so carefully put together, which make me feel beautiful, and human, again. I feel so very blessed. I have rarely left my home in three years, and have little human connection. I have been so embarrassed to ask for help, as I am usually the one to provide assistance. You have restored my faith in humanity, and I am grateful beyond measure. You are doing Hashem's work, and I pray you know just how much your acts of kindness mean to folks who, like me, are fighting for their health each day. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Please let me know how I may give back to you, as you have done to me.”
- Aliza
