Jerusalem volunteers to be honored for their service to capital

For 94-year-old Dr. Marjorie Kenyon, her once-a-week visit to volunteer at medical assistance organization Yad Sarah is among the hobbies that keeps her feeling young.

"When I turned 86, I had to cut back on my [volunteering] activities," the British-born doctor, who qualified in 1936, told The Jerusalem Post in an interview on Monday. "I don't think people over 80 should be allowed to drive, but Yad Sarah is accessible and I can work from a computer."

While her commitment to providing medical advice at the center is admirable, Kenyon said she gets more out of her work than she gives.

"Considering that I qualified before antibiotics were even invented, being able to hear about all the latest medical developments is quite inspiring," says Kenyon, who over the past 20 years has contributed to a variety of Jerusalem-based health care programs, including the establishment of a clinic for older women in the city center and initiating a program of free breast examinations for women who need them.

Kenyon is one of 24 Jerusalem-based volunteers due to be honored by Mayor Uri Lupolianski in a special awards ceremony this week. The Mayor of Jerusalem Award for Volunteerism is awarded annually to those who have contributed in the areas such as health, community and social welfare.

A statement released by the mayor's office Monday noted that more than 30,000 people volunteer each year in the capital and all are worthy of mention.

"I will accept this award on behalf of all my staff and volunteers who come and help out at my soup kitchen day in and day out," said one of the prize recipients, Abraham Israel, who used his own funds to establish the Hazon Yeshaya Humanitarian Network 11 years ago, initially to feed 17 people he found were starving.

Over the years and with extensive funds raised from abroad, Israel has developed his charity into a countrywide network of soup kitchens. Hazon Yeshaya also delivers hot meals to the elderly and housebound, food to after-school programs for children at risk and runs vocational training programs for the chronically unemployed.

"I am only human and admit that it feels is nice to be recognized for all this work," Israel told the Post.

"I've been doing this for 11 years and it's a very lonely and stressful job. We must not forget that humanitarian work does not skip a single day."