Passover 2024: Ensuring everyone in Israel has food on the table

Who is Pitchon-Lev?

An apolitical, non-profit organization, established in 1998 as a national humanitarian organization focused on breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty in Israel.

Pitchon-Lev directly assists hundreds of thousands of families and individuals every year, regardless their gender, religion, race or nationality.

Pitchon-Lev’s vision

Our vision is to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty in Israel for families and youth through providing humanitarian and rights utilization assistance, educational support and mentoring, and advocacy for reform of poverty law and a change in the government’s approach to poverty.

How is Pitchon-Lev different from other excellent not-for-profits?

Pitchon-Lev has over 25 years of experience in directly providing support to people in need.

Pitchon-Lev works with Ministries of Welfare, Finance, Absorption, Municipalities, Local Government agencies, and other Not-for-Profits to identify the GAPS and urgent needs that remain unfulfilled.

Pitchon-Lev is a 501 c 3 registered Charity in the United States as well as a 46 a charity in Israel.

• We do not duplicate.

• Pitchon-Lev is here for the ‘long haul’.

• Pitchon-Lev opens new windows of hope.

Pitchon-Lev is Aid-recipient centered. We are directly in contact with Aid recipients so we can adapt to the needs of our target groups as and where they are in the field, and as their needs change. We are nimble and agile - able to adapt.

What do we do? Scope of work activities and beneficiaries

Pitchon-Lev realizes its vision in three main ways:

1. Immediate assistance / urgent aid and impact projects:

Humanitarian Aid Centers

Each month, we distribute over 6,000 nourishing and diverse family food parcels, 1,000 baby food parcels, diapers and over 20,000 clothing and footwear items. Food parcels include: meat, chicken, rice, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, oil, bread, cookies, coffee and tea, sugar and many pantry staples. Our Centers across the country receive referrals from local municipal welfare departments and social workers, to assist thousands of families in need.

ChillAid

As part of Pitchon-Lev's ongoing commitment to alleviate poverty and improve living conditions, the ChillAid project addresses a critical need for essential electrical equipment,

particularly refrigerators, among families facing financial hardship. Refrigerators would help these families to lead healthier and more dignified lives, enhance their overall quality of life and foster self-sufficiency. ChillAid targets communities that have experienced trauma and evacuation near the southern and northern borders and cities that fall below level 5 on Israel's socio-economic scale of economic disadvantage.

Rights Utilization (in person or remotely)

Since 2014, Pitchon-Lev has been helping people in Israel stand on their own feet, including support to obtain their Social Welfare Rights at face-to-face Rights Utilization Centers and counselling programs including the Lehetiv Program.

From 2021 Pitchon-Lev in partnership with Israel’s National Insurance Institute, has been working on Rights in a Click Program to support people, wherever they live in Israel to access their social welfare rights without having to leave their homes. This new and innovative nationwide service handles large volumes of inquiries efficiently and cost-effectively. It is delivered free of charge.

Applicants seek help either through the web site, by phone or WhatsApp. They receive a case management support throughout the process. Trained Case Managers work from a ‘virtual call center’ supported by staff, experts and professionals working pro-bono.

How Rights in a Click ‘pivoted’ after 7/10 with the support and partnership of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

An example of how Pitchon-Lev adapts to the needs of Israeli society.

The need and the target - Currently Israel has between 150,00 to 200,000 people displaced from their homes in short term accommodation including in hotels, evacuation centers, dorms etc. This is either because their homes have been destroyed, or because they live next to northern or southern borders and it is unsafe to return because of fear of terrorists or rockets.

Many of the evacuees were impacted by in unimaginable ways. Many have never before asked for government support or welfare, and many fled their homes - traumatized.

Rights in a Click (supported by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto) is a one-stop-shop for personalized case management to ensure that people get all their social welfare rights - throughout the length and breadth of Israel. The support to 'bust through the bureaucracy’ is critical now more than ever. This support helps people ‘get back on their feet’ again.

Rights in a Click doesn’t just give advice. We case manage and support Applicants so that they are not battling the bureaucracy alone. They need our support to start the painful journey of rebuilding their lives and the Nation.

Pitchon-Lev's response: After 7/10 Pitchon-Lev immediately expanded its Rights in a Click Emergency Hotline and established an Emergency Hotline that provides immediate information and assistance on all relevant issues.

Pitchon-Lev innovated using the Rights in a Click platform to Mobile Hubs which enabled Pitchon-Lev, in conjunction with the JDC to offer mobile teams (Mobile Hubs) go to where displaced are, and support them with holistic case management services.

Volunteer power - Our team includes over 200 volunteer assistants (Case Managers) who respond to incoming inquiries face-to-face in over 14 locations as well as paid professionals. Dozens of content experts in various fields including lawyers, National Insurance specialists, public housing professionals, etc. and many volunteer their professional support.

Case support usually includes issues such as employment, disability support, access to public housing, and financial hardship. Evacuees have very complex issues including entitlements for Victims of Terror; legal issues of guardianship and responsibility for children now orphans; compensation for people with businesses and self-employed; and entitlements for employees let go due to business closure.

Rights Utilization – physical centers

Rights Utilization Centers provide assistance including information, guidance and case management on issues including: housing, debt management, employment, social security, health and workers' rights. We work with Applicants to ensure that they receive all of their government entitlements and benefits. In Nof HaGalil the Center Manager is both a native Russian and Ukrainian speaker. Our Center in Kiryat Malachi includes support for an Ethiopian community.

FamiliesFirst (Noshmim L’Revacha): In January 2024 Pitchon-Lev won a tender by Israel’s Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry to take responsibility for FamiliesFirst program. Previously operated as a collaboration between Rashi Foundation and JDC Israel, FamiliesFirst aims to address poverty by adopting a holistic approach addressing individual aspects such as parents, children, financial situation, or employment separately. Currently active in over 100 communities across Israel, it assists approximately 3,000 families annually, in addition to 12,000 families through the 'Power Centers'.

Lehetiv (to do good in Hebrew)

Pitchon-Lev helps and enables families living in poverty to improve their mental, physical and financial well-being through direct and tailored solutions for each family. To create holistic support to get families ‘on their feet’ in a sustainable way, Lehetiv recruits local authorities and other relevant support to advance employment, maximize economic potential and facilitate greater social mobility.

Textile Recycling Center in Carmiel

The Textile Recycling Center integrates people with limited abilities into society employing them in our plant in Carmiel. Donated clothes are sorted for distribution or sale. Unusable clothing is sold to industry for recycling into rags. Proceeds pay wages of the employees and contribute to the cost of food parcels.

2. Long-term intervention: Pitchon-Lev’s unique educational and empowerment programs, aim to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. Working directly with individuals and helping them achieve their potential. We improve their potential for greater social mobility:

Program 7: This three-phase and seven-year educational, empowerment and mentoring program assists at-risk-youth from the socio-geographical periphery achieve their potential with the objective of them completing the program with a foundation to pursue either tertiary education or stable and meaningful work. It takes them from grade 10 through their military or national service to one year post discharge.

Program HAMSA (Program 5): This two-phase and five-year educational, empowerment and mentoring program aims to help Israeli/Arab youth achieve their potential and to integrate Israeli/Arab youth into Israeli society. It works with Israeli/Arab youth from grade 10 to complete high school and then either stable and meaningful work or to tertiary education. Pitchon-Lev works closely with participating communities to execute this program. Where required, humanitarian assistance (food parcels) is delivered to the communities.

Noor: a leadership program for Arab-Israeli women between 17 and-25 yeasr old This program is delivered for the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry. It, is intended to bring about social change by enhancing the status of young women, promoting independence, freedom of choice, gender equality, and enabling them to realize their full potential.

Additionally, Noor aims to create a supportive and empowering environment and community for young women in town/localities that facilitate opportunities, services, and responses, allowing them to fulfill their educational and occupational potential, become independent, and take a leading role in the community.

The goals of the program are to improve the situation of young Arab women in the fields of education, employment, and personal well-being to promote their social and economic leadership. This includes preparing them for independent living and the new world of work.

The program aims to develop a professional mindset and a tailored work model based on cultural and gender awareness for the young Arab population. Is being progressed by Pitchon-Lev since January 2024.

HorizonHearts: Following the traumatic events of 7 October Pitchon-Lev developed a program to instill resilience, coping, strengthening mechanisms, and adaptability in the face of crisis. Central to the program is the cultivation of emotional intelligence, providing practical tools for active and purposeful "emotional management."

3. Strategic social impact through advocacy and legislative change: Promoting legislative change through Pitchon-Lev's "War on Poverty" law.

Pitchon-Lev works strategically, advocates for food security, and lobbies the Government of Israel, ministers and lawmakers. Our legislative proposal clearly returns the responsibility for eradicating poverty back to the Israeli government by creating an Inter-Ministerial Authority to confront and work for the benefit of over a million citizens of Israel who are living in poverty. It received unanimous Knesset support in the in February 2023 and awaits ratification.