Yad Ezra V’Shulamit helps needy families all over Israel, regardless of religious affiliation, ethnicity or age. They distribute 3,500 food baskets every week, and an additional 30,000 holiday food baskets.
We can organize for your family or group to volunteer and pack food baskets in their Jerusalem warehouse Sunday through Wednesdays or in their warehouse near Safed by arrangement. That’s when the fresh produce arrives from the farm, and volunteers are needed to pick and pack the various fresh and packaged goods for each family.
These weekly food packages generally include chicken, fish, fruit, vegetables, oil, grains, beans, canned goods, pasta and challah bread. They are designed to feed a whole family for Shabbat with plenty of food for the rest of the week too. The packages are delivered on Thursdays to families who have been assessed as needing support, tackling head-on the issue of food insecurity in Israel.
In 2018, approximately one third of the Israeli population was recorded as living below the poverty line, with their basic needs such as sufficient nourishment, sanitation, housing, clothing, education, and healthcare not being met. Israel has the highest rate of poverty of any OECD country. Although Israel’s economy continues to flourish, many residents are being left behind and poorly paid, with recent immigrants and families finding life particularly hard as food prices continue to rise.
In addition to their weekly food distribution program, Yad Ezra also runs children’s centers where poor children are provided with a nutritious meal, academic tutoring, and an enriching social environment. They host activities for teens-at-risk, providing them with social-emotional support and the tools to expand their horizons in a safe and encouraging environment. Their job desk gives vocational guidance to unemployed individuals, and they also provide the families they serve with financial assistance for extra expenses, such as school supplies, winter gear, medical therapies, and the means to celebrate life cycle events with dignity.
Volunteering with Yad Ezra V’Shulamit is a fun hands-on activity for people of all ages. Learn more and enjoy their fun volunteering video here!