by Keren Setton
JERUSALEM, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Many Israelis are finding a way to volunteer and help people cope with the many challenges the COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions pose.
With a population of almost 9 million and a spike in unemployment, the COVID-19 spread has created a situation in which Israelis have more time to volunteer.
As schools closed and restaurants and shops shut, access to daily needs is also hampered. People, especially the elderly, who need food and medicine, are weary of going out to get their daily necessities.
According to Meir Quinn, the CEO of NGO Refua Vesimcha (Medicine and Happiness), the largest population in need is those people who have decided to self-quarantine themselves because they are at risk, mainly elderly people. He estimated there are around a quarter of a million Israelis doing so since the beginning of the spread of the virus in Israel in the middle of last month.
"These are healthy people who have locked themselves at home," Quinn said, adding "Many of them don't have access to the media or help from anyone."
During routine time, Quinn's organization helps sick people with free ambulance rides, accompanys them in hospital, transports patients and delivers medical documents. Now, he said, their tasks have grown significantly.
The organization uses the WhatsApp application to divide tasks between the volunteers. There are 700 different local chat groups that get their tasks from the call center. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the call center was manned by 9 people several hours a day. Now there are more volunteers answering the phones for 16 hours a day.
"Now it is not only sick people that we treat," Quinn added. "We help people with life-saving tasks. People need their medicines and their milk and bread."
Quinn estimated they have helped over 10,000 people with their tasks in the past two weeks and he expects a further increase.
In the Jerusalem municipality, Nicky Cregor is the head of the unit for volunteer services. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, she said the municipality has been distributing 12,000 food packages three times a week to people in need. The distribution is done by volunteers.
In the past, it was usually the older people who had the time to volunteer. They are now the people most at risk for contracting the virus and therefore are staying home. It is now time for the younger generation to give back. According to Cregor, many of the volunteers come from youth movements and universities.
"Our major focus is on being good neighbors," Cregor told Xinhua, adding that "this, more than anything, is what is going to save people."
The municipal call center which receives many requests for help is used to getting tens of calls a month. Now, there are over 100 calls a day. People want help with shopping, getting medication but also being driven to medical tests now that public transportation has been drastically reduced.
One of the biggest problems faced by the elderly population is the loneliness that the restrictions have brought into their lives. Over 70,000 elderly residents of the city are being called daily by social workers to ask them how they are doing.
"We want people not to feel isolated or desperate and to know they have who to call," she said.
There is no doubt that this period is a challenging one. Amidst all the difficulties, people have a chance to shine with good deeds. Social media is playing a critical role in helping those in need connect with people who can help.
An Israeli Facebook page called "Quarantine Aid - Israel" has over 1,000 members, who have joined since it was created over two weeks ago.
Medical students are volunteering at emergency services in order to beef up their response and also help collect samples for coronavirus tests. Companies are giving games to people in quarantine to help them with the long periods of solitude. Volunteers are standing at entrances to medical centers and senior citizen homes to take the temperature of those entering the buildings.
"We are blessed by the response of the residents....it is very very encouraging," said Cregor.
"At the end of the tunnel, we do not see a vaccine or medicine for this," said Quinn, adding "Israelis have a secret weapon - a big heart. With this weapon, we will win."
