Leket Beet June 2026

Economists often speak about leverage – the ability to create greater value from limited resources.

At Leket Israel, leverage is at the heart of what we do every day.

As the cost of living continues to rise across Israel, more families are struggling to make ends meet. Food prices remain elevated, household expenses continue to grow, and many families find themselves making increasingly difficult choices about how to allocate limited resources.

This reality creates a growing challenge for Israeli society. But it also highlights why food rescue has become one of the most effective and economically efficient tools available to address food insecurity.

Unlike traditional food assistance programs that rely primarily on food purchase, Leket Israel rescues high-quality surplus food that already exists within Israel’s food system and redirects it to those who need it most. By doing so, we unlock value that would otherwise be lost.

The result is remarkable.

The average cost of rescuing and distributing one kilogram of fresh produce is approximately ₪ 1.50. The average cost of rescuing and delivering a prepared meal is approximately ₪ 5.50.

At a time when food prices are at an all-time high, the market value of the food Leket distributes is often many times greater than the cost required to rescue it. Every shekel invested in food rescue generates substantial nutritional, social, and economic value for the communities we serve.

Simply put, as food becomes more expensive, the value of food rescue increases.

That makes the current moment particularly important.

Over the past year, the Israeli shekel has strengthened significantly against the U.S. dollar. In June 2025, one dollar generated approximately ₪ 3.65. Today, that same dollar generates approximately ₪ 2.89.

For organizations whose costs are incurred in shekels and whose supporters often give in dollars, this change matters.

A $100,000 gift generated approximately ₪ 365,000 one year ago. Today, that same gift generates approximately ₪ 289,000 – a difference of roughly ₪ 76,000.

What does ₪ 76,000 represent?
It represents the ability to rescue and distribute more than 50,000 kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables. Or more than 14,000 prepared meals.

The generosity behind the donation has not changed. The needs of Israeli families have not changed. Yet the operational capacity created by every dollar received has been significantly reduced.

This is why stewardship matters.

Our responsibility is not merely to rescue food. It is to maximize the impact of every contribution entrusted to us. It is to ensure that every donated dollar, euro, pound, or shekel creates the greatest possible benefit for Israelis facing food insecurity.

That responsibility becomes even more important during periods of economic pressure.

Sadly, more families need assistance. As food prices increase, the value of rescued food grows. And as exchange rates shift, every resource must work harder.

The encouraging news is that the fundamental economics of food rescue remain extraordinarily strong.

Every truckload of rescued produce, every meal recovered from a hotel, corporate dining room, or event, every donation invested in logistics, transportation, and distribution creates value far beyond its cost.

That is why we remain optimistic.

Food rescue is not only an act of compassion. It is one of the smartest investments societies can make in addressing food insecurity.

The need may be growing. The economic environment may be changing. But the opportunity to create impact through food rescue has never been greater.

And neither has our commitment to making every contribution count.