Healing - Older people

FHL funds St Martha’s House, the first day centre for elderly women in Bethlehem. With no welfare systems in Bethlehem - such as state pensions, healthcare or social services - widows are particularly vulnerable as they have no independent income. Many live a lonely, isolated existence due to poverty and/or chronic illness; they live in poorly maintained, unsuitable housing without access to nutritional food or often, clean water.

35 elderly women attend St Martha's House on a regular basis. The House is open 4 days a week, providing breakfast and lunch, plus a programme of activities and engagement. The women are also helped with basic self-care (such as haircuts, podiatry etc.) and healthcare (blood pressure checks, dental checks, blood glucose tests etc) with visits from local Christian volunteers. We operate a minibus service to transport the ladies; this has proved a crucial part of our care during recent months when, because of the continuing war in Gaza, our ladies do not always feel safe leaving their homes.

The close-knit community at St Martha's House has been more of a lifeline than ever. The companionship they find with one-another significantly enhances their emotional and social well-being, so exasperated by life in the midst of war.

Margo

"At St Martha's House, I found not just a house but a family. It's my second home." 

FHL will allocate £131,000 in funding towards supporting Elderly Christians in the Holy Land.  More if we receive additional funding.

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£50 could pay for a month of meals for elderly women like Margo

£100 could support a child like Jana to go to a special needs school each month

£200 could provide medication for 3 months for someone like Ebraheem’s mum

£500 would cover the monthly salary of people like Yamameh in long term unemployment and growing debt

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