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Rosh Hashanah 2023 Update
Leket Express
As a new venture in the pilot stage, this mobile food pantry truck will
deliver fresh produce to populations lacking the infrastructure to support regular Leket
distribution through nonprofit agencies. At the operational stage we plan for a flat bed
truck with a container. People will enter through the rear of the truck and exit through a
side door at the front. The container will provide cover from the elements and allow a
dignified manner of support.
18 million apples rescued
A partnership was created with Project Leket, Bereshit (the
Apple Cooperative Society), and KANAT (Natural Damage Insurance in Agriculture). We
have already started distributing the fresh, nutritious apples and estimate that a total of
3,000 tons (6.6 million lbs.) will be distributed by the end of the program, just in time for
Rosh HaShana. These apples were aesthetically damaged by a hailstorm but are perfectly
edible. Along with the apples, we will distribute materials in three languages (Hebrew,
Arabic, and Russian) explaining the food rescue program and offering recipes.
Leket Briut: Nutrition Education Project
Nutrition Education Project – This program, led by Leket’s dietitians, Smadar Hod-Ovadia and Moran Kilzi, in partnership with Ariel University, educates students in select schools about the importance of eating fruit and vegetables. The students’ families receive bi-monthly packages of fresh, rescued produce from Leket Israel. The program is currently available in five schools, and there is a waiting list for next year.
New Leket Chief Operating Officer (COO)
In the first half of the year, Irit Davidovitch left Leket Israel and Tamar Brener replaced her as the new COO. Tamar brings with her extensive logistics knowledge and management experience.
New organizational structure
To enhance and advance our organizational productivity, we restructured a bit. Ravit Dinmez Yechezkel and Smadar Hod Ovadia were promoted to the VP level. Additionally, a new direct reporting structure was implemented to consolidate overlapping activities and reduce the number of managers reporting to the CEO.
Project Leket surpasses its goal
As of August 31, 2023, Project Leket surpassed its current goal and is on the way to rescuing over 30,000 tons (66 million lbs.) of agricultural produce by the end of 2023.
Leket to Table
Meal Rescue Project tops its target – As of August 31, 2023, Leket to Table
exceeded its target and is on the trajectory to rescue 2 million meals by the end of 2023.
SKYLEKET Satellite Project
After a year of collaboration with Code for Israel, led by Efrat Braounstein, we have developed a software program that, via satellite, identifies agricultural land where produce is harvest-ready. This program supports our ability to identify rescuable fresh produce before it is destroyed.
Paul’s retirement and reorganization of the Overseas Resource Development Department
In June 2023, after 19 years of service to Leket Israel, Paul Leiba retired. We divided his
position into two separate positions. Rosie Miller was promoted to Grants and Donor
Relations Manager. She manages Abi Singer, a newly recruited grant writer, and is
responsible for writing all grant requests, reports, and donor correspondence, as well as
overseeing all grant proposals. Rechelle Hochhauser was hired as the Development
Operations Manager to manage the financial aspects of fundraising including market
analysis. Additionally, she will now oversee fundraising knowledge management.
Together with Deena, who was promoted to VP of Overseas PR & Development, they will
take over all of Paul’s former responsibilities.
Soup project and cooked vegetables
The soup project will continue this coming year. This project has expanded to include cooked vegetables, beets, cabbage, onions, and more. This initiative, prioritizing the elderly population, delivered 520,000 units of pint-sized containers of soup and TV-dinner-style containers of cooked vegetables.
Leket Live
The 5th Annual Leket Live Mission celebrated 20 years of Leket Israel with a wonderful two-day, behind-the-scenes look at Leket Israel’s food rescue operations. We were joined by dozens of major donors, board members, three representatives of food banks from abroad, the President of the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), and our regional coordinator.
Leket Presenters Forum established
A group of Leket employees recently completed a workshop that enhanced their public speaking and storytelling abilities, granting them the skills necessary to effectively present Leket’s story in various settings. Our goal is that every volunteer receives 30 minutes education on Leket prior to arriving at the volunteering location.
Leket Ambassador Program
Leket has provided numerous students in different schools with training in crucial subjects such as sustainability, environmental conservation, nutrition, and Leket Israel’s food rescue initiatives. These educational efforts have been conducted in collaboration with The Administration of Settlement Education (no political affiliation). The initiative’s primary objective is to empower students to share Leket’s vital mission with their peers and to cultivate a new generation of advocates for the cause.
Farmer Appreciation Project
Under the leadership of Anat Hatuel, several regional celebratory events were hosted, in conjunction with local agriculture councils. The aim was to show Leket Israel’s appreciation for our partners in the farming community. Each farmer received the Leket Tree Statue and a letter of recognition.
Volunteers
52,000 people from Israel and around the world volunteered over 100,000
hours with Leket Israel, in the fields and in our Logistics Center. Aside from their invaluable
assistance, they serve as our most important ambassadors, sharing Leket Israel’s work and their positive experience, led by our volunteer and logistics departments. They are all
potential donors.
Grant requests
Leket submitted 300 formal grant requests this year to federations,
foundations, and private donors, each uniquely curated according to the needs of the funder. Paul led this work until his retirement in June. Since then, Rosie has managed the grant writing and is leading the way, with support from new recruit Abi.
What a Waste! Campaign
A national media campaign, featuring Israeli actress and comedian, Nelly Tagar, is promoting Leket Israel’s partnership with the farming community.
Endowment fund
Two years ago, we established an endowment fund, held by the Jewish Federation of MetroWest, NJ. This economic tool will generate future income for Leket Israel.
Citibank
In collaboration with the Israel Resource Development Department and the grant writing section of the Overseas Resource Development Department, we submitted a grant proposal and were awarded a significant donation from Citibank Global. We are one of only eleven beneficiaries worldwide, and the only one from Israel.
Donation
With a few phone calls, Maya successfully convinced a donor who previously
offered to donate NIS 100,000 to Leket, to increase the donation to NIS 505,000.
President’s Climate Forum
His Honorable President Isaac Herzog established A cross-disciplinary forum, to discuss issues and potential solutions to climate change. Ravit Dinmez Yehezkel Leket Israel’s representative at the forum relating to food and food security.
Government Relations
We had meetings with 21 Knesset members, GM’s, and government ministers, including an appearance at the Shas Party meeting. This meeting led to a follow-up meeting with the Minister of Welfare, who is working to introduce fruit and vegetables into government subsidized parcels. To receive government support, food pantries will be required to add fruit and vegetables to their parcels.
Financial statements
Leket’s annual financial statements were published in July, as usual. These reports indicate the organization’s positive economic and operational performances and continued development.
Information and privacy protection
Leket Israel is committed to protecting the organization and our stakeholders, so that confidential information is guarded according to strict laws and best practices and in accordance with cyberworld developments. This complex, ongoing task requires a large investment, which is part of the cost of doing business.
New e-commerce site
After a year and a half of development, we are proud to announce our new e-commerce website. Initially, the site will sell our e-cards, and later we will use it to offer other items. It is already in use for this Rosh HaShana campaign.
Leket’s 7th Annual Food Waste and Rescue Report
Last November, the 7th Annual Food Waste and Rescue Report was written by BDO. For the third time, it was published in collaboration with the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Report, with the help of globally accepted measurement tools, examines the governmental steps in OECD countries to implement policy tools for food waste reduction. The Report received excellent press exposure in both English and Hebrew, despite being released during the elections in Israel.
Atlas Report
Written by the Harvard University Food and Law Clinic, led by Prof. Emily Broad Lieb, in collaboration with Leket and the Global FoodBanking Network, the Atlas Report was published in June and released at an event held at the Leket Logistics Center and supported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Report analyzes food donation laws and policies in Israel as compared to other OECD countries, and provides recommendations on how Israeli leaders can reduce food waste, alleviate hunger, and mitigate climate change.
MENA 2050
As part of Leket’s focus on sustainability, we joined MENA2050, a new sustainability organization for Middle Eastern and North African countries. The goal is to learn and share best practices on food rescue and environmental protection issues in the region. Leket Israel is the only organization actively working in the field. Other members are policy making organizations.
Abu Dhabi conference
Leket Israel was invited to a conference in Abu Dhabi on climate change and environmental protection. Excellent international connections were made, which brought Leket Israel to the forefront of food rescue as part of the solution to climate change. A particularly striking and important contact was made with Dr. Hakima Al Haiati, former Moroccan Minister of Environmental Protection, and current Climate Change Ambassador for the UN, who joined us for Leket Live.
Global FoodBanking Network’s Food Bank Leadership Institute
GFN hosted its annual conference, this year in Mexico, after a break during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the conference, we presented panels on topics of rescuing cooked food and agricultural harvest. We also learned about carbon credits and how we can utilize them.
Manna agreement
In the last few weeks, Leket Israel signed a partnership agreement with Manna. Manna produces quality meat substitutes and other foods from fruit and vegetables. The intention is to expand the usage of the rescued produce, which began with the production of soups. The goal of this partnership is to generate profit and donations for Leket.
Carbon credit agreement
In recent weeks, Leket Israel signed a contract with Brightly, a Boston-based company that will analyze Leket Israel’s potential to sell carbon credits. We hope that in addition to the positive impact our food rescue operations have on the environment, this will also generate significant profits.
Bill passed a preliminary hearing
Thanks to our strong relationships with various Members of Knesset, a private bill obligating government contractors to donate their surplus food was submitted and has passed its preliminary reading. This is a key step in the passing of new legislation. We have five additional bills awaiting to pass the Committee of Legislation, Constitution and Law.
Measure of Effectiveness
We are in the final stages of renewing our certification for the Midot Seal of Effectiveness. This certification shows the organization’s level of impact and is obligatory for membership in Igul L’Tova (Round-up for Good). The seal is also important as a resource development tool.
Webinars
This year we offered eleven webinars to the public, in both Hebrew and English, on assorted topics related to health, nutrition, cooking tips, and holiday preparation. Thousands of people registered for the Zoom sessions and signed up to receive Leket’s newsletter.