by Abbey Marks

“The concept of helping connect people in a worthwhile way resonated with me very much,” said Lorraine Skupsky.  “I hadn’t heard about Yad Sarah, so I knew other people in Colorado probably hadn’t heard about it, either.  I learned that it wasn’t a start-up, but an established, well-run, successful organization.  It had the scope, expanse and sophistication to really connect with people.”

Lorraine Skupsky lives southeast of Denver, in Greenwood Village, Colorado but she has the force and determination to make an impact thousands of miles from her home.  “I have an extensive medical background, and I was looking for an outstanding organization in Israel where I could put my time, money and energy,” she said.

Ms. Skupsky has Master’s degrees in both Nursing and Labor Negotiations.  With professional experience as a family therapist, psychiatric nurse and medical consultant—evaluating the needs of medical practices and connecting them to other resources in the country, she has a background befitting Yad Sarah, and in 2001, a cousin introduced her to the organization. 

Yad Sarah is Israel’s largest volunteer-staffed organization, providing a vital array of compassionate health and home care support services for people of all ages.  Yad Sarah’s innovative services are free of charge and designed to support the efforts of families caring for the frail elderly, the homebound, the injured and disabled, victims of terror and children with special needs. 

Looking to get more involved, and knowing that Colorado has sister cities in the Negev,   Ms. Skupsky began researching options—she wanted to focus financial resources on a small Israeli community in great need.  She met with Daniel Sheer, Yad Sarah’s Assistant Director of Overseas Relations. “We problem-solved and came up with Dimona,” she said.

Dimona, a small town in the Negev, is made up of a largely Ethiopian and Russian immigrant demographic, with its population having risen steadily since an influx in the 1990s.  With limited access to resources due to its remote location, the community struggles with some of Israel’s highest rates of unemployment.

“I visited the branch, met on-site volunteers, studied the branch layout and found it to be in great need of financial support,” said Ms. Skupsky.  “And still, to this day, they continue to need help.”

Because of the town’s lack of resources, Dimona’s residents benefit in countless ways from Yad Sarah.  The Dimona branch, established in 1996, is open five days a week and run by 22 volunteers who serve a community of 1,200 residents.

“When I talk to people in Colorado, it’s a twofold orientation,” explained Ms. Skupsky.   “First I speak about Yad Sarah generically because most people here don’t know it. So anyone who comes near me gets an earful.  And then, if their eyes don’t glaze over, I talk about Dimona.  I tell them: You can directly benefit Dimona, directly benefit people in the Negev, directly benefit Israel.  You can see your money at work.”

You never know what it is that will make an impact on potential donors, Ms. Skupsky said, but Yad Sarah has no lack of reasons to give.  “It might be the concept of buying a wheelchair for one person.  It might be buying a walker—one walker is $45 and it might mean an elderly person in Israel is able to visit her grandchildren.  It might mean giving someone the opportunity to meet a friend for coffee.  It encourages independence, and that’s an exciting thing made possible by a walker.”

Ms. Skupsky is the mother of 18-year-old triplets, to whom she has passed on her commitment to Israel.  One of her daughters is currently spending a year in Israel, the other is active in Zionist groups at Colorado University in Boulder and her son created the website IsraelWorldNews.com, which compiles articles from English-language Israeli newspapers to provide a one-stop resource for anyone seeking news from Israel.

Two years ago, the whole family participated when Ms. Skupsky worked closely with Project Cure to collect equipment for Yad Sarah.  Ms. Skupsky, her children and her husband spent a day at a warehouse, cleaning the equipment in preparation for its shipment to Israel.

Ms. Skupsky’s next endeavor will be as chair of the Leadership Council of Friends of Yad Sarah USA.  The Leadership Council will be a group of devoted American donors committed to raising money and awareness for Yad Sarah, leading the effort to bring quality of life to the frail, injured, elderly and homebound in Israel.

“When an organization as solid, consistent and dynamic as Yad Sarah comes along,” said Ms. Skupsky, “you must investigate further, take a look at the website, determine what you can give and hit send.  You can make a difference helping individuals in need in Israel.”