By Chani Vogel
The saying, “May we all remain on the giving end” holds very true in my mind. I would rather make a thousand Bikur Cholim meals than ever need to be a recipient of even one. Sometimes it is hard, but I won’t complain if I volunteered because I want to be a giver. I don’t want to ever have to take from anyone.
When a family has a loved one that is diagnosed with the dreaded ‘yene machlah’, G-d forbid, they are usually at a loss. First question that springs to mind is, “What now?”
It is true that many can consult a rofeh yedid, a doctor-friend as the Rebbe recommended, and get an opinion from him, but their new reality will involve way more than just the referral of a good doctor.
Insurance premiums, second opinions, navigating the maze of bureaucratic red tape with insurance companies, airfare to top notch hospitals, missed work, changes of schedule are just the beginning of this long and treacherous road, with the eventual refuah shleima as the ultimate goal.
An entire family gets affected by a diagnosis. Children feel neglected, and they are scared. Often they just end up trying to function as best as they can. Spouses feel lost. Their rocks are now crumbling.
Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS) is an organization that comes into the picture. They are there with help at every step of the way. They are most famous for paying insurance premiums so that top notch care is not a dream, it is a reality.
In fact, today, I was apprised of just one of their simple stories.
A person was flown into America for help. There is a new medication that is his last hope bederech hateva. The costs are astronomical. The insurance companies did not want to hear about him. RCCS went to the manufacturer of the drug to procure the treatment for this person. For every dollar they spend, they get the insurance companies to shell out at least another $20! Their help does not end there however.
Cancer does not discriminate. It does not care if a victim is rich, poor, Jewish or not, living in Crown Heights, Boro Park, or anywhere else in the world. It attacks, and it attacks hard! A person can have the money for insurance premiums but can be clueless as to how to navigate the systems. They may not know the best doctors. They may not be able to get an appointment for months by a top notch doctor. RCCS is there for everything.
Of course RCCS expenses are astronomical. They have come up with a plan to raise much needed funds through an auction. Not wanting to waste precious donations on a lavish affair, many volunteers graciously open their homes and make smaller events for their friends to attend, and collect money there. The prizes are all donated. The auction tickets are $10 a piece, with $180 giving you a ticket in ever prize box. The split the pot last year reached over $300,000! It is only $20 to enter.
Unfortunately we have people in our shchuna who are in need and benefit on a daily basis from RCCS. We need to show our hakaras hatoiv to them for what they do for our brothers and sisters. Our community is wonderful! We put up guests for every occasion and every yom tov. In every instance we rise to the occasion beautifully. We need to rise above this, and give to an organization who helps our families survive!
This year, I chose to host a party together with Chaya Roitblat. We are hosting on November 12. If it is not a great night for you to come out and enjoy, that is fine. Stop in, write a check, and go about your business. If you are available that night please come and join us. If you cannot make it to our party, please contact us, to arrange to drop off a check. Together we can make the difference. Together we can be givers!
RCCS Auction Viewing – For Women Only
Tuesday, November 12, 8:00 pm at 622 Empire Blvd
Cookie decoration course by Sima Creative Confection
Buy $25 worth of tickets and join the course
For anyone unable to make it, please go to the RCCS website,
http://www.rofehcholim.org/auction/prizes.asp
Please Enter the promo code C24 so that RCCS knows where the money is coming from.
We got another prize to raffle off!!! Thank You Shloimy Klein from Joy of Kosher magazine… A one year subscription to joy of Kosher!!
U rule!
The website isn’t allowing the code in the Promo line; I put it under ‘order comments’
Natural and Kosher have just offered a $200 gift basket for one lucky winner of the prize viewing tomorrow. To be entered, you need to come to the viewing, and purchase at least one ticket.
Thank You Natural and Kosher.
online donations can be made via rofehcholim.org
Chani, you are one of the few people who talk about starting good initiatives and follow through. You give all you got to whatever you do. You should be blessed
Chaya, thank you for hosting the CH Rccs event! You should only host for good things!
Maybe there could be on line info to make a donation.