The monthly update for our most dedicated supporters from Gidi Krochl
As spring is quickly turning into summer, a lot of exciting things are happening at Leket Israel. Preparations are well underway for the first annual Leket Live Mission which will be in Israel from July 8-10. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of Leket Israel’s activities from meeting a partner farmer, experiencing a food collection at the Knesset and more. If you haven’t yet registered, there’s still time. Register here or email [email protected] with any questions.
In this edition:
- Spotlight on a Leket Israel NPO Partner: WIZO Pisgat Ze’ev
- Leket Israel at Shufersal
- Potatoes Galore
- Leket Israel in the Skies
Spotlight on a Leket Israel NPO Partner: WIZO Pisgat Ze’ev
Leket Israel recently started delivering hot meals, rescued from hotels and IDF army bases, to the Wizo Community Center in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem. In the mornings, elderly women gather there for recreational classes but more importantly for camaraderie.
“Most of these women are widowed and their children have moved out so they’re all alone” remarks Aliza, Director of the Center. “If they didn’t have this center, they would just sit at home by themselves all day long.”
Since Leket Israel began supplying the Center with daily hot meals, it has made a tremendous impact on these women’s lives. Even though they are physically able to care for themselves, most of them are not cooking and as a result, are not eating nutritional food. A typical meal consisted of a piece of bread and hummus, maybe a cup of coffee.
“The first time we received the hot meals, we all cried” Aliza says. “The idea of having delicious, healthy hot meals that were brought especially for them was a dream. The food is great, there’s enough for everyone and also a nice variety but the most important part is that everyone eats together. Now, every day after their morning classes the women gather together to sit down for lunch. Partnering with Leket Israel ensures them a tasty and nutritious meal and having everyone eat together also answers their need to socialize and develop new friendships. I simply couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Leket Israel at Shufersal
In the last week of May, Leket Israel was fortunate to partner with the Shufersal supermarket chain. From May 27-June 3, anyone who shopped at one of the 185 Shufersal branches around the country was offered the opportunity to donate NIS 10 to support Leket Israel and provide a family with a hot meal. This partnership came about through Leket Founder and Chairman, Joseph Gitler’s relationship with IDB Foundation. This is a special program only awarded to 7 nonprofits per year. Through these NIS 10 donations Leket Israel received NIS 200,000 which will provide 20,000 families with a hot meal.
Potatoes Galore
Last month, Leket Israel received a call that the Shikma farm in the Negev had a surplus of potatoes that could not be sold in the market. Even though the potatoes were healthy and good quality the farmers found that they were unable to sell them due to their thin peels, so they decided to donate the entire surplus to Leket. During the night, 8 trucks traveled down south to pick up the crop of 200 tons of potatoes.
Due to Leket Israel’s professional reputation and strong partnerships with farmers around the country, this farmer knew he did not have to destroy his crop. These 200 tons of potatoes will feed 100,000 needy families.
Leket Israel in the Skies
Since 2016, Leket Israel has been developing a strong collaboration with El Al Airlines. Over these past two years, El Al has sent many staff members to volunteer with Leket. This month, a Leket Israel promotional video was featured on El Al short haul flights. Hopefully, these videos will increase awareness of Leket Israel and will bring more tourists and Israelis to volunteer and join us in the Leket Israel experience.
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