From
the Times of Israel
Jewish
group delivers food to aging Poles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust
Full
article: https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-group-delivers-food-to-aging-poles-who-rescued-jews-during-the-holocaust/
As a
teenager in Warsaw during the Holocaust, Krystyna Kowalska helped save a Jewish
family of four who hid at her family's bakery.
She
does not remember being afraid, even though if they had been discovered her
whole family would have almost certainly been shot dead on the spot along with
the Jews they hid.
But
now, at the age of 88, Kowalska is fearing for her life because of the
coronavirus, the fatality rate of which is especially high in individuals older
than 70.
"It's
a scary time for me to be outside as I see the impact of this virus on my age
group," said Kowalska, a widow whose son has died and who lives alone in a
third-story apartment without an elevator.
Across
the world, people from her generation have minimized their interaction with the
outside world to avoid contracting COVID-19.
For
rescuers of Jews in Warsaw, that task became considerably easier this week.
The
From the Depths commemoration group, which last year began offering free taxi
rides to these rescuers, converted its small fleet of four cars into a delivery
service that is designed to fulfill the recipients' basic needs at their homes
while taking care to expose them to as little risk as possible.
Since
Sunday, the foundation has delivered groceries to about 20 people recognized as
Righteous Among the Nations, Israel's title for non-Jews who risked their lives
to save Jews from the genocide. The cabs are disinfected after each delivery
and the group's founder, Jonny Daniels, said he delivers the groceries
personally to the recipients wearing a mask and gloves.
Since
Sunday, the foundation has delivered groceries to about 20 people recognized as
Righteous Among the Nations, Israel's title for non-Jews who risked their lives
to save Jews from the genocide. The cabs are disinfected after each delivery
and the group's founder, Jonny Daniels, said he delivers the groceries
personally to the recipients wearing a mask and gloves.
"But
they still need to buy food, often at several supermarkets because of hoarding,"
which has created shortages in basic products, he added.
So
From the Depths made a list of 40 addresses and plans to make home deliveries
to all of them by Saturday.
To
keep the cabs virus free, From the Depths paid for overpriced disinfectants,
which its staffers — the association has several drivers, an administrator and
dozens of volunteers — apply between rides…
From
the Depths staff has started to set aside time for phone chats with the
Righteous to help combat their sense of isolation, said Oliver Wangart, the
chief driver and head of logistics for a service the association calls Silent
Hero.
The
delivery and taxi service is only available in Warsaw, which is already
straining the From the Depths budget, Daniels said.
"But
these are people who stood up for the Jews in our people's hour of need,"
he said. "Well, now this is their hour of need and we need to stand up for
them."
