About Us
A Message from Mr. Yechiel Landman, Chairperson of "Haverim - Friends for Health"
The mutual feelings of wanting to help one another that were circulating amongst the general population: that was the source of strength from which "Friends for Health" arose.
Our organization helps the sick, many of whom are in life-threatening situations and are unable to obtain either surgical or medical treatments, or medications that they need.
The volunteers of "Friends for Health" spend their days and nights in an effort to get those medicines from donors who no longer need them, and bring them to those who will use them to ease their suffering or even cure their illness.
Since its inception, "Friends for Health" continues to assist thousands of patients to obtain medicines and treatments that they need, and "walks with them" in their darkest hours, striving to provide each person with the best care available.
Working with people who are fighting for their lives is not easy. We invest our heart and soul. When they succeed and recover we are thrilled; but when G-d forbid the opposite, we are devastated.
Always with you,
Yechiel Landman
Chairperson
The Purpose
The organization "Haverim-Friends for Health" was founded in the year 2003. Our goal is to extend voluntary assistance to the population suffering from disabilities or those who are in health distress, as much as possible. To help the sick get expensive medicines and treatments that are not in the health care package. To influence public opinion and to provide legal services in order to improve the public health services.
Medication Recycling
The most exciting, growing project in "Friends for Health" is the Medication recycling program. "Friends" makes direct connections between patients in need of life-saving meds and those who have them but no longer need them. Without "Friends" initiative, these medications would just lie unused or get thrown out, wasting millions of dollars and the chance to save many more lives! In 2009 Haverim donated meds to over 3,593 people at a value of $3,408,080 From January through December 2009 over 802 cancer patients were helped by medications at a value of $2,710.526. Over 2,791 chronic meds were given out to chronically ill patients at a value of $697.750.
"Friends"- Volunteers
Hundreds of people, many of whom are professionals in executive positions from all sectors of Israeli society, are amongst the steady volunteers of "Friends for Health".
The sick and the wounded meet the volunteers in hospital wards throughout the country. They (the volunteers) are rubbing shoulders with nice people: enriching free time for some; helping those who happen to be students complete their scholastic requirements; making happy events for others; giving attention, warmth, and love; and easing at least a little of the suffering and the pain.
There are volunteers who are babysitters in the home of a parent whose child is hospitalized. Some volunteer to provide transportation and accompany children to difficult treatments. Others assist in organizing support groups and get-togethers for those who have, thank G-d, fully recovered.
Children of "Friends"
The "Friends for Health" year is one full of activity for our children.
For children in the hospitals, every week there are clubs and get togethers with our volunteers who are in the clubhouse of the hospital on a regular basis.
For the children who are at home, there are monthly Shabbat trips to different communities throughout Israel. During the course of these Shabbat trips, the children, together with the volunteer who is supervising him, are hosted by families throughout the country. They alternately eat and spend time together as a group, and with their families. It's a wonderful experience for them.
Every summer, we take a group of children who are sick and handicapped to an exciting, action-packed residential camp. It's a really special experience for the kids and a time for their parents to regenerate their waning energies.
There have been many different trips in Israel, including to the north, to Eilat, and to Jerusalem. These trips are usually for 4 -5 days each.
Next come the trips to Switzerland and Turkey. These are the makings of dreams come true.
"We're on the way to Berne and I've just remembered an amazing thing that happened last night. Ziv the cutey, who spends most of his time sitting in his wheelchair and finds it very hard to get up, suddenly decided he was going to climb the stairs by himself. Miracle #2: Ben, who hadn't even left the chair until now, also decided to get out and walk around a little with his escort's help. Both of them marched around the hotel, WITHOUT THEIR WHEELCHAIRS ! You can't believe what happiness does for these kids! Their joy is our joy."
These two events happened on one of the trips to Switzerland.
All this is just part of the activities. There are still parties and holidays to be taken into account.
The Defense Ministry – Rehabilitation Division
"Friends" has a very productive partnership with the Ministry for Defense, accompanying and supporting wounded IDF soldiers. The volunteers work in all the rehab frameworks and at all stages of rehabilitation in the individual's community.
Cooperation with Academia
We currently run three academic projects: 'Cycles' with Tel Aviv University, and the occupational therapy school at Hadassah Ein Kerem plus another one with Achva College. Students mentor "Friends" children or other people, and earn themselves academic credits for their volunteer efforts.
Legal Aid
Some of the best lawyers specializing in medical and representative claims volunteer their services to "Friends for Health".
Emergency Funds Saves Lives
People fighting for their lives need help. When they're forced to also cope with financial crises, they need even more help. Sometimes they need to find hundreds and thousands of dollars to finance their health and they simply cannot do so without the support of charities like "Haverim-Friends for Health" who open and run special funds for these specific purposes.
"Friends" accompanies the patient and builds a comprehensive support program with him/her and/or the family, aiming to solve the most severe problems and obtain the best and most appropriate treatment in critical cases.
One of the elements of a support program is opening a designated fund for donations in the name of the sick person. If the family is unable to fund the treatment that the doctor recommends to save his or her life or to fund the critical medicines, we open a fund and publicize the details for fundraising purposes.
Donations are transferred directly to the bank account and not to Haverim.
We supervise over a hundred special bank funds simultaneously. The banks oversee the funds under legal supervision.
Apart from exceptional cases, the first people to contribute to the funds are always the patient's close family and friends.
Before operating each new fund, "Friends" first becomes familiar with the situation and authenticates the medical information. Once that is done, we then open a personal, direct bank account, allow credit card donations, deposit checks, issue receipts, write and publicize appropriate requests for help in each case, direct payment to the treatment supplier or drug company.
• All donations are tax deductible according to clause 46a.
• Any remaining balance in the account (following recovery or death, G-d forbid) is transferred to other "Friends" funds for people in need.
If you wish to donate to help save someone's life, you can visit our website at www.haverim.org.il\e.
Look through the personal stories behind the names of the funds or at the funds themselves and choose which one/s you want to help.
You can be sure your donation will be used directly for the sick individual for medical purposes alone.
In the year 2009 over ten million NIS was raised and transfered to patients trough 150 funds.
"Haverim-Friends for Health" Mission Statement
We will volunteer to help anyone who cannot get the medical care they need by themselves, including, financial, or other aid. We will give to the very best of our ability.
We are here for you.
