At Maon Or, Netanya, an institution for the mentally disabled, the residents are used to seeing volunteers arrive to help them. But the group decided that giving back to the community is important and they initiated a volunteer program. Recently, they have started to volunteer with Leket Israel, harvesting crops for the needy in the fields and sorting produce for the poor at Leket’s logistics center.
Last Thursday, some of the Maon Or residents arrived to volunteer in the Leket Israel packing facility. For a few hours, they sorted potatoes and onions. Amichai, a Maon Or resident said: “When I help those who don’t have, I feel happy and enjoy it; it is good to know that I can help someone lacking food.” Rachel Ellal, a staff member at Maon Or, noted that volunteering is extremely important to the residents: “our residents come to volunteer with a lot of motivation and enthusiasm. Those who weren’t assigned to come today were deeply disappointed. They all love to help and contribute and just as in the residence, when I request assistance for anything, they all jump to offer themselves, so with outside volunteering- there’s an even stronger competition amongst them to fill a spot.” Anat Nadler, who is the coordinator for recreation, education and culture, adds: “Volunteering gives so much to our residents, a feeling of empowerment, self-confidence and self-esteem. Picking, sorting and packing parcels is a wonderful experience for them. It is a fun day while also contributing to the community. It is very important for us, as a value, that communal relationships be mutual- we receive and we give.”
Leket Israel is truly proud of this partnership. According to Vered Katzav Goldstein, Director of Volunteer Services at Leket Israel, “It is very important to us to integrate the disabled among our 50 thousand annual volunteers. They arrive with so much good will and motivation to help and they contribute to the organization and to those who need its assistance.”
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