Country Projects: Israel

Overview

After two years of planning, The Forum to Address Food Insecurity and Poverty in Israel launched Leket: The Israel Food Bank in September 2007; this food bank is designed to serve the entire country.

Leket has developed in-depth knowledge of the needs of its member agencies and has built programs and partnerships with NGOs and the food and grocery industry to address those needs.  It conducts a variety of programs aimed at providing stable food packages for different ethnic populations within the country, and it has developed strong nutrition education and nutrition-focused food sourcing programs.

Israel’s population is nearly 7.25 million people.  Official reports (from the UN) suggest that 5% of the population (>360,000 people) is undernourished. 

GFN’s Involvement

GFN has been involved with Leket from its beginnings, hosting delegations from Israel in the United States and making several in-country visits to help develop a business model that is appropriate within Israeli society.  We have provided scholarships over the last two years for Leket leaders to attend to the H-E-B / GFN Food Bank Leadership Institute.