VIDEO: Feeding 300,000 People for Passover
Today, with more than one-third of all Israeli children living under the poverty line, Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has their hands full. In fact, thousands of people are on a waiting list for additional food baskets.
In the wee hours of the morning, the trucks start rolling in. One from Sderot, another from the north and several from companies in Jerusalem. The warehouse begins to fill up with tons of produce – literally tons. Chickens, grape juice and of course matza is ready to be packed. By Wednesday, the symphony begins.
A symphony of logistics where hundreds of volunteers seamlessly gather, pack, and distribute food for over 300,000 people. What could easily be a nightmare is a genius organization in action.
How is this possible?
“I’ve been volunteering for Yad Ezra V’Shulamit for over 10 years now,” Avi Shalom states, “I feel great helping people get the basic food they need. It’s the highlight of my week.” Avi is one of hundreds of volunteers that come out every week to make a difference in the lives of the over 2,000,000 poor people in Israel.
“We couldn’t get food to people for Pesach without our volunteers,” said Eli Kafif, CEO of the organization. “The army sends troops to pack, people volunteer to deliver food packages to those who can’t pick them up, seminary students, tourists, and everyday people all who go the extra nine yards and make this work.”
With over 55,000 requests for food baskets from 91 different locations, Yad Ezra V’Shulamit works around the clock to make sure everyone gets food for Passover. There are 4 warehouses, 12 trucks and lots of love and devotion, as workers and volunteers pool their efforts for the sake of the poor.
The organization usually delivers 12,000 food baskets weekly, so the infrastructure is a well-oiled system. Still, getting all the baskets and vouchers into the right hands is a logistical feat.
Scheduling deliveries and pickups and keeping track of recipients requires a cadre of helpers and equipment. All must work in perfectly-coordinated tandem to get food to needy people on time for the Passover Seder.
Today, with more than one-third of all Israeli children living under the poverty line, Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has their hands full. In fact, thousands of people are on a waiting list for additional food baskets.
“We don’t make ends meet in a normal month. How on earth can we make Passover, which is so much more,” one recipient exclaimed, “Yad Ezra V’Shulamit gives us a basket every week, but the Passover basket really saves the holiday.”
“I want to be part of the solution. I remember when I didn’t have enough to eat and now that I’m better off, I want to help those who aren’t making it. I know what it is like. I feel like this is my way of paying back what people did for me,” said Joseph Sultan, a volunteer for decades.
Poverty is real in Israel.
Yael, a widow who cleans houses to support her children and is a recipient of a food basket, said: “If not for the weekly food box we receive from Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, I would not have anything to put on the table.”
This hurts all of us. Is this our responsibility? Yes. We need to step up to the plate and help get food to the poor in Israel. Especially the children.
So, what can we do?
Yad Ezra V’Shulamit distributes more food baskets than any other organization in Israel. Take a look at their website and see where you can help.
This is a call to every person who cares about Israel and her future. Are these not our children?
Help feed the nation’s hungry children in Israel – especially for Passover.
For more information about Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, go to www.yadezra.net
The post WATCH: Feeding 300,000 People for Passover first appeared on United with Israel.
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