Approximately One Third of Israel's Population Lives Below the Poverty Line!

According to the Food Research and Action Center, a nutritious lunch one day after the other during the school year can help prevent diabetes, obesity, overall poor health, and emotional stress. Clearly making sure to eat lunch daily is crucial for a child’s health.

Israel’s schools operate under uniform government guidelines for providing wholesome food rather than nutrition-challenged junk. They haven’t allowed sweets – including sodas, and candy in school cafeterias since 2016. During that year, the government tried to have more nutritious meals in schools. Having a healthy, filling meal will allow students to me more attentive and able to participate in class.

Unfortunately, in Israel, the prices for food are rising. This April 2018 article Israeli food prices 19% higher than OECD average  illustrates the problem, as does a June 2019 update, Israelis cutting back on vegetables and fruit as prices soar.

 Bituach Leumi, Israel’s Social Security Administration, made a 2018 assessment that approximately one in three Israeli children (29.6% of the population) live in poverty. That’s a lot of schoolchildren who can’t function in optimal fashion. They face dismal prospects for physical, emotional, and academic growth.

Programs such as Yad Ezra v’Shulamit, are reducing student hunger. They are preventing malnutrition as the cost of food remains unaffordable for many children.

You can help Yad Ezra v’Shulamit to supply many children with the school foods that they need.