Amid COVID-19 Crisis, Israeli Org Supports Restaurants & Feeding the Needy

By: TPS Staff

Over the course of the last four months, Leket Israel has seen a drastic increase in demand for food from the growing population of people living below the poverty line. The financial crisis generated by the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic has left many without work and created a social predicament.

Additionally, due to the financial crisis, many restaurants are on the verge of collapse. People whose job was to provide food to others are now dependent on others for support.

Seeking to possibly benefit both sides, Leket Israel has launched the Meal for Two initiative in which it invites the public to support restaurant owners and vulnerable Israelis through one simple donation.

Contributions are used to purchase cooked meals from restaurants impacted by the economic crisis for distribution to the needy. This project will enable restaurants to remain open while providing high quality, nutritious food to those in need.

Gidi Kroch, CEO of Leket Israel stated that “the Corona crisis caused, among other things, the collapse of many restaurants, leaving restaurant owners and employees without a livelihood and with accumulating debts. We at Leket Israel, cannot stand by idly, and have launched Meal For Two, a social initiative, that will support both struggling businesses and the growing number of poor suffering from the severe economic crisis plaguing the country.”

Leket Israel will provide the know-how, logistics and management resources required to facilitate the flow of prepared meals from participant restaurants to those in need.

“This project is a win-win situation which will help both the restaurant industry as well as provide fresh nutritious food to those in need,” Kroch added.

Leket Israel aims to raise NIS 2,500,000 and hundreds of Israelis have already joined the initiative.

Leket Israel promotes the safe and efficient collection and distribution of surplus food in Israel to those who need it. Some 200 nonprofit associations receive food from Leket and deliver it to over 175,000 needy Israelis per week.

The IDF is Leket’s largest contributor. The organization collects the leftover lunch from some 40 bases around Israel and provides the food to soup kitchens, adding another 100,000 weekly meals for Israel’s needy.

(TPS)