About Us
Rachelli’s Story
Rachelli glances around her kitchen, and her heart sinks again.
The fridge is empty; the pantry bare. Poverty screams from every corner of the house. The future seems so bleak.
In less than an hour, her kids will walk in from school, and she promised them—she promised—that there would be supper tonight.
Why? Why did she get their hopes up? Why should today be any different than yesterday or the day before? It’s so unfair! Why can some families afford takeout every night, while she can’t manage to pull together a simple supper? What did her kids do wrong to deserve such a life? They also need a hot meal, a calm mother.
Rachelli scavenges through the empty shelf. A half-box of stale crackers, four medium potatoes, two mushy onions. She brightens slightly. I can pull something together with this. It’s not the protein they need to grow but…it’ll make a hot, filling soup, hopefully enough to survive another day.
A knock sounds at the door.
Two young men in teeshirts printed with a blue-and-orange logo appear like angels!
Meirim Lachaim! She’d heard of them. Vaguely. Someone had recently mentioned that they’d add her name to the list, but Rachelli hadn’t dared to hope.
Now, gazing in disbelief at the overflowing crates filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, oil, sugar, canned goods, and oh my gosh, chicken, tears well up in her eyes. Fresh chicken! Her prayers had been answered! Today, her kids will have a hot, healthy meal for the first time that week!
“How can I thank you?” she whispers. Her voice catches in her throat, and tears leak from her eyes.
The volunteer returns a heartwarming smile. “Just tell us if you know of someone else who needs our help. That’s the best thanks we can ask for.”
Meirim Lachaim
They call this the “Age of Plenty.”
But not for everyone.
In Israel, today, one in every five children (yes, one in five) is hungry. Statistics show that 22% of our children suffer from chronic food insecurity. This isn’t just a number; it’s the defining mark of poverty. Food insecurity means limited access to food and an inability to consistently provide basic, healthy, balanced nutrition. It’s a reality that leaves deep scars, impairs physical and mental health and erodes the social foundations of children trapped in its grip.
Our Mission: Lighting the Way
Meirim Lachaim reaches out to supports those lacking basic food and sustenance. With food parcels, emotional support and financial aid, we aim to shine a light in the darkest corners of their lives, fill the gaps where hope has faded, restore dignity and provide unwavering support to those who need it most.
At Meirim Lachaim, we shine a light of compassion by truly listening to the cries for help that often go unheard. Whether we’re visiting patients in the hospital or providing a supportive hand to families in crisis, we offer comfort during life’s most challenging moments. Our efforts are founded in the timeless truth that giving is receiving, and that a better, more beautiful world is built one act of kindness at a time.
Meirim Lachaim in Numbers
