“According to the NII Annual Poverty Report, released in December, more than 1.7 million people are living in poverty in Israel, including 460,800 families and 764,200 children, accounting for over 20% of the population….
During Passover, Israel’s charitable organizations pick up the mantle and rally together to assist the needy…
Last week, Labor and Social Services Minister Haim Katz announced that he would expand the national initiative for food security by an additional 50% to help more families receive food during the holidays and throughout the year.
Estimated at NIS 60 million, the initiative works in collaboration with Colel Chabad, the longest running charitable organization in Israel, and Leket Israel – the National Food Bank to provide approximately 10,800 of the neediest families suffering from food insecurity…with a prepaid card of NIS 500 per month to purchase food. The expansion will provide an additional 5,000 families with support, for an estimated NIS 30m.
Katz made the announcement during a tour of Leket Israel’s logistics center in Ra’anana.
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‘There were some opposed to launching the National Food Security Program, but in my eyes, Leket Israel supplying the fruits and vegetables and Colel Chabad providing the food cards is the right way,’ he said. ‘The delivery of fresh produce combined with the food cards restores much dignity to the neediest families in Israel.’
As part of the program, families will receive a prepaid card for NIS 250, which can be used to buy food and necessities in grocery stores, with the exception of tobacco and alcohol, while an additional NIS 250 will be provided in rescued food, such as fruits and vegetables, which will be delivered directly to the families’ homes.”
-Excerpted from http://www.jpost.com/
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