Shaving Israel, the St. Louis-based group that supports IDF soldiers with toiletries and other items, is in need of donations to send supplies to Israel, according to board member Laura Goldmeier.
“Right now, we’re spending a lot of money to try to help soldiers in need in Israel and we’re getting requests from social service agencies inside Israel,” Goldmeier said. “We’re supplying things soldiers need day to day in the field, like toiletries, cell phone batteries, T-shirts, socks and body wipes. There are two ways people can donate. Go to our website – https://www.shavingisrael.org/ – and use the link to our Paypal account. We also have a mailing address if they’d rather send a check to: Shaving Israel at PO Box 6991, Chesterfield, MO 63006-6991.”
What is Shaving Israel
Shaving Israel is the only group in the United States whose mission is to educate U.S. citizens about the needs of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and funds the purchase of toiletries, personal items and food vouchers from Israeli suppliers for members of the IDF who are in need or deprived of family support systems.
Shaving Israel was founded by Rachel Miller, a Holocaust survivor, after she returned from a trip to Israel where she visited with a friend at an Israeli Defense Force army base. Discovering that each soldier had a very limited allocation of toilet paper, Miller remembered her own experience of having to use newspapers as toilet paper during World War II. On her return to St. Louis she invited different friends to join her on the board of her newly organized Shaving Israel to help provide basic necessities.
“Every single dollar raised goes directly to the soldiers. There are no overhead costs so all the money pays for toiletries, vouchers for transportation home for Shabbat and other personal needs for servicemen in dire need,” Miller explained back in 2007.
To learn more about Shaving Israel, anyone can attend a program and brunch at Traditional Congregation at 12437 Ladue Road on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. The event will also honor Sheila Gross and her family. To register for the brunch, email [email protected] or call 314-576-5230.
