The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh proudly supports Leket Israel, a leader in reducing food insecurity and waste, especially during times of crisis. Leket's impact stretches back to the 2020 pandemic when they supplied families pushed into poverty with 2.3 million hot meals and by rescuing 41 million pounds of fresh produce.

Today, with a 41% increase in weekly recipients and a commitment to swift response, Leket continues to inspire hope. By addressing immediate nutritional needs and supporting farmers, they not only feed the hungry but also strengthen Israel’s agricultural and economic resilience.

Since the October 7 attacks, Israel's agricultural production has faced significant disruptions with restricted access to farmland near Gaza and Lebanon, a severe labor shortage, destruction of land and equipment and forced closure of farms. From the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the October 7 attacks, Leket Israel has stepped up, ensuring that the most vulnerable in Israel receive critical food aid and support.

In 2024 alone, Leket rescued and redistributed 37 million pounds of fresh produce and purchased 24.1 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to meet growing demand. Despite a 40% decrease in food rescue compared to 2023, they continued to provide for at-risk populations under rocket fire, evacuees and struggling farmers.

In the wake of the October 7 attacks, Leket launched targeted programs to aid those in need:

• Emergency Financial Assistance: Distributed 4,428 pre-loaded credit cards to evacuated families and 943 cards to at-risk farmers.
• Support for Farmers: Delivered over $4 million in grants and mobilized 35,000 volunteers to assist with harvests in war-affected regions.
• Essential Food Deliveries: Supplied 200,000 emergency meals, 75,000 frozen soups, and 5,000 food parcels to areas under constant threat.
• Support for evacuee families: Provided weekly produce to 3,000 families residing in 8 hotels.

Your support of the Federation’s Community Campaign fuels this essential work. Together, we can continue to help Leket Israel save lives and support Israel during the most challenging times. Donate today to ensure no Israeli goes hungry in their time of need.