"When
our rabbi presented our congregation with the
opportunity to work hands-on and mentor families in
need, I
reflected on the notion of giving a person a fish to
feed them for a day or teaching them how to fish and feed
themselves for a lifetime, and that got me motivated,"
says Lew.
Lew got his own children involved in
the process, having his 10-year-old daughter, Andie,
join him to help with babysitting during the mentor
team's meetings with Dana. Andie and his
other daughters have also pitched in to offer their
gently worn clothing to Sabrina. While building
their relationship with Dana and her family, Lew and his
team are quickly and keenly realizing her needs.
"She has no car.
She's a little stuck with two kids," says Lew. So when Dana
recently received free tickets to a Nuggets game, he and
Andie offered their babysitting services. "I know what
it's like to be a parent. Freedoms that
some of us, as married parents, take for granted, like
having our spouse watch the kids so we can go work out,
or so we can go to the grocery store" are things that
Lew says Dana lives without the luxury of
experiencing.
"I've always had
a vehicle," says Lew appreciatively. "But Dana walks
to work, and when she shops, has to take the bus, then she takes a cab
home. She
has to plan her time very differently, and she's on a
very limited budget with one salary. Dana just
doesn't have our good fortune right now," says Lew, with
gentle understanding.
Lew
says he and Dana's mentor team want to do all they can
to help her. Starting with money management and budgeting is
the first necessity to "freeing her from physical and
mental bondage," says Lew. Helping Dana
plan her tax return and helping her to focus on saving
for things like owning her own home and her own car are
some of the goals they're aiming at. "I'm hopeful
that we can help her save a few hundred dollars, maybe
get an FHA loan so that she can develop equity and buy
property. That's the next step," says Lew
confidently. Meanwhile, Lew says her mentor team "coaches her,
encourages her, calls her midweek to check
in."
Lew recounts that
he grew up with two loving parents. "Dana had a bad
childhood. We want to support her and show her another life,
show her a nurturing relationship."
"I'd
like to see everyone have the opportunities that I've
had. As a
mentor team, we want to help Dana get a real life. We're
here not so much to give help, but to help her work out
and discover her options. We'll be there for her," says
a steadfast Lew, representing Dana's faithful mentor
team.
And
that's a powerful and wonderful gift.
Thank
you Temple Micah!
And
that's a powerful and wonderful gift.
Thank you Temple Micah!
