Jul 1, 2020

Federation Helps Support Israel’s Increased Food Insufficiency During Pandemic

In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Federation is not only providing much needed assistance in Miami, but is also supporting Israeli organizations experiencing increased hardship due to the pandemic. Emergency grants were given to 13 agencies facing heightened demands due to rising COVID-19 cases. Your donations to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign include support for those facing food insufficiency. Through Leket Israel and The Jaffa Institute, two of the 13 organizations that received emergency COVID-19 related funds, Israel's most vulnerable are receiving help.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Leket Israel, a Federation partner and the country’s leading food bank, was rescuing 42,000 meals a week from hotels, corporate cafeterias, events and the Israel Defense Forces for delivery to those in need. Since this has not been possible due to the pandemic, Leket has changed its business model and moved from meal rescue to purchase, coordinating with seven catering companies and nonprofit recipients in 31 cities. Federation’s emergency grant has allowed Leket to provide an additional 2,191 meals.

The Jaffa Institute – Food Distribution Center, which makes bimonthly deliveries of nonperishable food packages to those in need, many of whom are Holocaust Survivors, has also been serving additional recipients in response to the ongoing financial crisis caused by COVID-19. The extra funding from Federation helps provide 135 families with non-perishable food packages containing essentials such as flour, oil, coffee, canned vegetables, pasta and tuna, as well as household items and personal protective equipment.

If you would like to make a donation to the Annual Campaign to support these efforts, click here.

To learn more about Federation’s Israel & Overseas Department, click here or contact director Dahlia Bendavid at dbendavid@gmjf.org or 786.866.8445.