When twins Yaakov and Raphael G. were both born with Down Syndrome, their mother and father knew the sweet boys were just beginning their journey on what would prove to be a very long road for all of them. Therapies, surgeries, consultations with specialists, these were only a fraction of the costly needs the babies would require. More than their parents could ever afford.

Yehuda K., a father of three, was just 26 years old when he began to develop vision problems, and after suddenly dropping his daughter one day, was shocked to learn he had Multiple Sclerosis. Expensive yet vital medications to slow the effects of the disease were quickly driving his family into tremendous debt.

Yaakov and Raphael’s parents, Yehuda K. and many others like them, who are faced with extreme life challenges are already saddled with the emotional distress of their circumstances, just getting through that distress on a daily basis is an uphill battle. But coupled with the financial strain that accompanies it, the situations become unbearable. Parents who were stable and self supporting before their crisis, often fall into newfound financial instability to the degree that they can no longer feed and take care of their children as they used to. When the endless bills pile up and remain unpaid, families find themselves at a loss for where to turn for help.

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Milka’s Fund was established in 2016 to step in and lend a supporting hand during crises like these. Using the crowdfunding platform, milkasfund.org hosts real-life stories of people who have fallen into hardships that result in life altering economic stress. Before publication every story is thoroughly researched and verified by specific Yad Eliezer staff members who meet with each family, involved Rabbonim, gabei tzedaka, social workers and additional qualified, associated individuals. Once published, readers donate to the site, earmarking their contributions for chosen situations.

To date, generous donors have used Milka’s Fund to significantly help all different kinds of people with their particular needs. The G. twins were provided with funds to help cover urgent medical bills and nursing care. Yehuda K., whose story is still active, was enabled to move to a lower level apartment, much better suited to his condition. And there are so many others. From the A. parents, tragically attempting to hold their family together as their soldier son lies in hospice, to the Z. children who have been orphaned from their father and cannot be taken care of by their disabled mother, Milka’s Fund has meaningfully impacted the lives of numerous families, enabling the collected donations to provide for their most pressing, vital requirements.

To read more about Milka’s Fund and learn about some of the families who are featured there (including the ones mentioned above), visit milkasfund.org.