Excuse Me, Ma'am, Need Help with the Bags?

When Talking About Kindness

The sky is the limit regarding what can be done for others, especially when it comes to the elderly. Yakir Partush (30), an employee at the Ministry of Education and a business student from Jerusalem, managed to turn the ideal into action. "Anyone who shops at the market knows that there are many elderly people carrying heavy bags without any help," he says, adding: "When I was an undergraduate student, I used to do my groceries at the Mahane Yehuda market. One day, I saw an elderly woman 'dragging' two heavy sacks on the ground. Like any moral citizen, I offered her my help. When I tried to lift the heavy weight, I realized it was nearly impossible, and I couldn't understand how a woman her age could manage to handle such a load."

Partush asked the lady why she hadn't requested help from anyone, and her response surprised him, no less than the heavy bags she was carrying. "She hadn't approached anyone because she didn't want to bother people or cause them discomfort by refusing her." That's when the idea flashed in his mind. "I thought how wonderful it would be if there were people at the market wearing bright shirts with the logo 'I'm ready to help anyone who needs assistance.' That way, any elderly person having difficulty with their bags would feel comfortable asking for help."

It's Nice to Have an Idea, But How Do You Start It?

"The first thing I did was contact Beit Hillel, an organization that promotes social initiatives at the Hebrew University. From there, the path to implementation was short: the center directed me to amazing activists like Heli Tabibi and Idan Benjamin, who helped in promoting and empowering the idea."

I Suppose the Initial Step Was Advertising. What Was Your Target Audience, and What Were the Reactions?

"Before advertising, we conducted a sort of 'market survey' since we were hesitant about choosing the volunteering day. We were sure that Friday was the best day of the week, but it turned out that Wednesday or Thursday were the 'winning' days when most elderly people visit the market. After that, we met with the community manager, the Jerusalem Municipality, and other bodies to coordinate our activities with them. Once everything was settled, we began advertising."

"Everyone who heard about our initiative couldn't stop admiring and blessing us for success. From everyone, without exception, both volunteers and the elderly, we understood that such an initiative is definitely needed and truly heartwarming."

Initially (meaning a few years ago), most of the activity of the 'Lady with Bags' project was carried out by Partush's friends and acquaintances, as well as others who agreed to lend a hand in this important action and dedicate about two hours a day to the matter. Over time, the activity expanded, reaching other volunteers, young and old alike, who also came to help. "Besides the fact that our volunteers receive wise life tips from the people they assist, there is no doubt that this project has led to very interesting encounters. Today, not only are we blessed with volunteers who make sacrifices and regularly attend meetings, but we've also expanded the activity to markets in other cities besides Jerusalem—a trend that keeps growing. I'm happy to say that in this intergenerational encounter, the differences between those who give and those who need become small. Each gives what they have—one provides strength, the other beautiful stories about 'Such A Life'."