“And in the church God has appointed… those able to help others…” I Corinthians 12:28

If you would like to lend a hand in providing needed items for the Holocaust Survivors, look over the list below and see what you can do to help. Please keep in mind all items should be new.

Handcrafted or hand picked from the store!

1. Aprons – cloth, preferably bib style
2. Bags - bought or hand sewn cotton bags approx (12-14” x 16-20”) to put items in as a gift and the bag becomes a gift as well!
3. Baseball caps for men (low profile best kind)
4. Cassette tapes of Jewish / Messianic / Classical music (most Survivors have cassette tape players)
5. Cloth/material trivets for hot plates on table
6. Cross stitched or embroidered wall hangings. Someone in Israel donated 40 round wooden hoops (9 in diameter) to display such hangings. Make sure any designs chosen are not too Christian (such as crosses) but landscapes, flowers, Hebrew or the star of David would be most welcome.
7. Deodorant – roll on or stick
8. Dish cloths
9. Dish towels
10. Doilies - Knitted or crocheted
11. Draft dodgers (material tubes stuffed with fiberfill for stopping drafts at the bottom of a door)
12. Face cream or lotion (women)
13. Face wash cloths
14. Face towels
15. Fans - small battery operated handheld fans (summers in Israel are hot!)
16. Hand and body lotion (men and women)*
17. Handkerchiefs (cloth) for men
18. Handkerchiefs (cloth) for ladies, pretty
19. Head scarves (women)
20. Judaica - any Jewish item (or jewelry) – they have very little in their homes that reflect their heritage
21. Knitted caps (men)
22. Large knitted, crocheted or quilted squares to make lap robes (12” – 15”)
23. Lip balm (Kosher)
24. Magnifiers (whole page plastic)
25. Memo pads
26. Notepaper or stationary
27. Nylon body scrubs
28. Pencils (you might include a small pencil sharpener)
29. Pens
30. Pillowcases – pretty ones or embroidered
31. Pillowcases - flannel or polar fleece pillowcases (they can be handmade)
32. Placemats, table runners (Most like colorful items to brighten up their apt)
33. Polar fleece lap robes
34. Pot Holders
35. Sardines (1 or 2 cans are light enough for a bubble envelope) (Kosher)
36. Scarves – soft, warm neck scarves, both men and women
37. Slippers - (size medium or large, both mens and womens) Knitted, crocheted or bought slippers
38. Soaps – small perfumed or decorative
39. Socks – both men and women
40. Stationery or note cards (blank inside - scriptures on cards okay) I have found they like to write to any friends they have left behind in Russia or the Ukraine.
41. Sturdy cotton or mesh bags for carrying groceries
42. Sugar-free hard candies (Kosher)
43. Sugar substitute (Equal, Splenda)
44. Tablecloths – square (most tables 36”sq.)
45. Tea - flavored teas (Russians love their tea!) Keep it in the box, sealed, you can even crush the box to put it into a bubble envelope.(Kosher)
46. Toothbrushes (sealed in pkg)
47. Travel size items: lotion, aftershave, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, etc (Put each liquid item in a separate zip-lock bag to prevent leakage)
48. Tuna (sealed packs are not as heavy as cans) (Kosher)
49. Visor caps
50. Photo albums (small) with photos of YOU!

Mailing Tips:

Here are some tips for sending these items to Israel:

1. We suggest putting a self-addressed post card in the package for them to send back to you so you know it arrived. We have Israeli stamps for you to use on the postcards. We will gladly send them to you at your request. Contact the coordinator closest to you.

(Following mailing details for US Postal)

2. Boxes sent ground (economy) take 2 – 3 months for delivery. Bubble envelopes sent ground (economy) take about 2 – 6 weeks for delivery. Letters, cards or large envelopes sent airmail arrive in about 7-10 days. Make sure anything sent is taped well enough to last the trip. Post offices in Israel are pretty rough on packages.

3. Packages 4 lbs or less, sent ground, cost much less. Even one ounce over 4 lbs is a new cost bracket. If it is very light you can send it airmail. Check with the post office to find the best rate for you.

4. A customs form must be filled out with every package. Under 4 lbs it is a small green slip. Over 4 lbs it is a larger white slip. In the section identifying contents write “charity” and a simple identification. For cost amount, we recommend putting a ‘zero’ or a low amount for value. Since Israel is considered to be a war zone, insurance is not available. If it looks like it is something expensive or valuable, it may not make it past the customs agent. Ask your local post office for reccomendations on mailing to Israel.