A recent finding by Israel’s National Insurance Institute shows that over 14% of working families have fallen below the poverty line.  The National Insurance report classified a new social sector called the “working poor” that is included in an astonishing statistic that nearly 25% of all Israelis have been defined as “poor.” Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, an organization helping needy families overcome hunger, is targeting its Pesach food distribution to specifically reach Israel’s “working poor” class.

This year Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has received 16,000 requests for Pesach food baskets from families in need. The baskets include basic food items that are necessary for the holiday; such as Matza, grape juice, chicken, fresh produce, and more. The baskets are tailored to the size of the family, with small baskets costing $60 and large baskets costing $140.00.  Their goal is  to ensure that each family receives enough to celebrate with dignity.

Approximately 400 volunteers have come to Yad Ezra V’Shulamit’s warehouse in Jerusalem to help package the food baskets which will be distributed to needy families throughout the country before Pesach. Every week throughout the year over 2,500 families receive food baskets from Yad Ezra V’Shulamit; however when it comes to Pesach the need for assistance is much more widespread and urgent.

As the month of Nissan begins, the need for food baskets has become more pressing. To help feed poor families in Israel this Pesach please contact Yad Ezra V’Shulamit at www.yadezra.net.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)