IFCJ launches Passover welfare drive for those in need

Passover. Credit: Chava Goldstain/Shutterstock.

(JNS) — The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is launching one of its most ambitious welfare distribution projects ever ahead of the upcoming Passover holiday.

In the days leading up to the April 5 seder, IFCJ will provide for 17,305 food packages for delivery to homes, alongside an additional 20,580 meals that will be cooked and served in facilities tending to those in need.

As part of the Passover initiative, IFCJ will also distribute:

• 17,000 “Dream Card” vouchers worth 200 shekels ($56) towards clothing shopping for children in welfare daycare centers.
• 14,500 “Tav Hazahav” cards worth 500 shekels ($140) each towards food purchases of families on welfare.
• 1,000 food vouchers worth 500 shekels each to be distributed via non-profit organizations assisting families.
• 11,000 food vouchers worth 500 shekels each for lone soldiers.
• 2,500 food vouchers worth 250 shekels ($70) each, distributed via the IDF to families of soldiers who are part of the National Food Security Initiative.
• 1,700 food packages worth 250 shekels each distributed by the Yad B’Yad organization.
• 150,000 shekels ($52,000) worth of food provided through cooperation with Leket, doubling the amount of aid for needy families.

“Every year we see an increase in the demand for support around the holidays, particularly for food and clothing. There is no doubt that responding to these needs is extremely challenging for the many organizations and government welfare agencies that are committed to providing the people of Israel with the support they need,” said IFCJ president Yael Eckstein.

“This year, in the face of particularly high levels of need, together with our partners, we will be helping over 250,000 people, families, individuals, lone soldiers, elderly and children all across Israel alongside our continued welfare efforts in other parts of the world,” she added.

In preparation for Passover, IFCJ has provided an extra 9 million shekels ($2.5 million) to organizations working in the field to provide matzah, food, clothing and aid to 140,000 men, women and children in the Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.

IFCJ also will be distributing 15 tons of matzah to the Jewish communities in Ukraine and Moldova through Chabad emissaries.