Since it was founded in 2003 by American oleh Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel has become synonymous with rescuing wasted food and providing nutritious meals to thousands of people every day. In 2023, the NGO delivered 2.3 million cooked meals from army bases, hotels, and catering companies, as well as 32,200 tons of fresh agricultural produce. All this rescued food is redistributed through a network of 296 nonprofit agency partners to more than 330,000 people around the country experiencing food insecurity.
Leket Israel has built an operation that collects excess food from institutions, sorts it at the NGO's Logistics Center, and distributes produce and meals to soup kitchens, shelters for battered women and Holocaust survivors, after-school programs for at-risk youth and other places – for the benefit of those who would not otherwise have regular access to nutritious meals. Since October 7, new needs have emerged and, as a result, Leket Israel launched a slew of new initiatives across the country.
Supplying fresh produce to evacuees
As a result of the current conflict, there are an estimated 250,000 displaced Israelis across the country, many of whom have been residing in hotels since October. Working with the Ministry of Health, Leket Israel recognized that these hotel residents were lacking consistent access to nutritious snacks. Although meals are provided by the hotels in communal dining halls, the evacuees have little or no access to cooking facilities or healthy snacks between meals.
In response, Leket has installed produce stands in the hotels, providing evacuees with a consistent supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, free of charge, which the organization purchases from Israeli growers. The benefits of this approach are far-reaching and consistent with Leket's mission of ensuring that population groups at high risk have free access to unprocessed food, free of sugar and saturated fats. The produce stands also give the evacuees a sense of being cared for at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Additionally, the program provides a source of income for Israeli farmers who have been impacted by the ongoing war and the consequent loss of produce markets.
Leket Israel hired unemployed tour guides to chaperone groups of volunteers on farmsCredit: Courtesy of Leket Israel
Currently, produce stands have been placed in eight major hotels throughout the country. The fresh produce is displayed in supermarket-like stands in the hotel lobbies. Evacuees are free to help themselves to fruit and vegetables as they wish. Initially, only vegetables that did not require cooking were supplied, however after learning that some evacuees had access to cooking facilities, Leket quickly ensured that items such as potatoes and onions were also included in the deliveries.
Shimon from Kibbutz Beeri, sought refuge in a hotel after enduring a terrifying 24 hours holed up in his safe room until the IDF rescued his. Tragically, during the attack his grandson was killed, and his granddaughter was captured and held in captivity for 53 days before her eventual release.
Shimon explained that when he saw the fruit stand in the hotel lobby, he could not believe that the beautiful produce was for them. "Having access to these wonderful fruit and vegetables makes a huge difference for the residents," he shares. "Not only does it give us a healthy option, but it also allows us to eat it on our own schedules." Though the future of Beeri remains uncertain, Shimon is determined to return home. "Of course, I plan to return to the kibbutz," says Shimon. "My house may have burned down, but it's still my home. We plan to rebuild and return when it's safe. We're looking toward the future."
Serving abandoned communities
Leket Israel also launched Leket Express, which aims to provide free, nutritious produce to underserved populations who lack adequate access elsewhere. The program operates in Netanya, Rishon Lezion, Mevaseret Zion and Dimona. Each location serves approximately 200 Israelis in need. Every morning, a truck leaves Leket's Logistics Center stocked with fresh surplus produce. Upon arriving at its destination, the truck is transformed into a grocery store, complete with shelving, a ramp, and an awning. The recipients are encouraged to browse the shop and select their desired produce, offering a dignified experience. Each household receives around 25 kg. (60 lbs.) of fresh produce weekly. On their first visit to Leket Express, each family receives a reusable shopping bag to help them carry their groceries home.
For 20 years, Leket has been providing rescued produce directly to nonprofit organization partners, rather than directly to recipients. Although there are over 3,000 food pantries throughout the country, many organizations are not registered with the government, hindering Leket's ability to partner with them. Leket Express facilitates increased collaboration with municipalities in periphery communities, leading to a combined effort to serve marginalized populations and areas that have historically lacked support. Mobile distribution can respond and deliver produce as needed, service predetermined distribution routes, or even provide emergency relief at times of disaster or conflict.
Leket has received full funding for this wonderful project from Citibank Global thanks to its strong, longstanding partnership with Citibank Israel. This initiative was one of only 50 chosen to receive support and the only organization in Israel.
A Leket Israel fresh produce stand in one of the hotels where evacuees are being housedCredit: Courtesy of Leket Israel
"There are many communities in Israel that do not receive support from the government or local nonprofits," explains Tal Shafran Zatlavi, Project Manager of Leket Express. "Leket Express allows us to provide vital, nutritious produce to underserved populations who have been going without for far too long. This project is especially vital during the current situation, with many displaced people who do not have access to their normal means for receiving food."
Bolstering the local economy
The ongoing war has also devastated Israel's farming community, damaging land, equipment, and heavy machinery. Most concerning, however, is that growers have been left without a labor force as foreign workers have left the country. At the same time, Israel's once thriving foreign tourism industry has ground to a halt. After being hit hard by Covid-19, the country's 9,000 licensed tour guides were just beginning to recover, only to find themselves once again struggling to secure employment and make ends meet.
Since October, Leket Israel has sent almost 40,000 volunteers to farms across Israel to support the farmers until they are able to hire new workers. Recently, Leket began engaging tour guides in this project, paying them to accompany and supervise these volunteer groups. This project aims to bolster two sectors that are vital to the Israeli economy but have not received sufficient assistance from the government. Not only does this project provide farmers with much needed labor, but it also gives tour guides a sense of purpose and the opportunity to earn income that they desperately need.
Tour guides employed by Leket accompany volunteers six days a week on buses from cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, Raanana, Rishon Lezion, Jerusalem, Ashdod, and Rehovot. Each guide acts as a point of contact for their group, liaises with the farmers, and ensures that the needs of the volunteers are met. Most importantly, as passionate and knowledgeable advocates of Israel, they provide participants with historical information and facts, shedding light on the challenges faced by the country following the outbreak of the war and offering insight into Leket's role in addressing the needs of Israeli communities. Fifty tour guides have already signed up and are working on rotation. Volunteers from Israel and overseas remain eager to continue assisting farmers with crop cultivation and harvest, with each guide hosting 15-50 volunteers per trip.
A tour guide involved in the project shared: "This opportunity has given me a new lease on life. Tour guides are suffering terribly, and until now we have felt completely abandoned. Leket's support not only shows me that someone cares, but it is also allowing me to continue working in the profession that I love, and above all, it's enabling me to provide for my family."
For more information, please visit: www.leket.org/en >>
partnered with Leket Israel
