AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MEIR PANIM

1.8 million people in Israel live in poverty. This number includes 800,000 children. Many disadvantaged families are caught in a cycle of poverty with no hope for the future.
Meir Panim’s goal is to alleviate the harmful effects of poverty in the short-term and provide long-term, proactive solutions to assist the needy to break out of the cycle of poverty and become active, self-sufficient members of Israeli society.

Meir Panim runs a network of social service programs throughout Israel, including Restaurant-Style Soup Kitchens; Meals-on Wheels for the elderly, homebound, and disabled; Meals for Children; pre-paid food shopping cards; holiday food packages; and After-School Youth Centers for at-risk children. This holistic support enables the disadvantaged population to focus on bettering their circumstances and not having to choose between buying food and buying medicine or household necessities. By providing needy people with one hot meal each day, Meir Panim alleviates the stress and anxiety that comes with food insecurity.

Meir Panim works closely with local Municipalities and Social Workers in each of the areas services are provided. In close collaboration with the Mayors’ offices, impoverished citizens are referred to Meir Panim so we can outreach to the needy populations, e.g. elderly citizens who are in need of nutrition.
Branch managers communicate frequently with clients and social workers so we reach as large a population as possible.

In Or Akiva, Sderot and Dimona, municipal and administrative officials, including teachers and principals, coordinate enrollment and attendance at three 3 at-risk after school youth programs.

Because of Meir Panim’s services, disadvantaged Jerusalem residents are no longer forced to make the difficult decision between food and other basic necessities like medications or household items. With the continuation and expansion of our programming, Meir Panim eases the burden of poverty for many families and elderly residents of Jerusalem.

Meir Panim diminishes widespread hunger and the number of vulnerable citizens in Israel who are suffering from "food insecurity." For many, the daily meal provided by Meir Panim is the only hot food they will eat all day. By ensuring that clients receive at least one nutritious meal, Meal Panim protects the health and physical well-being of Israel’s disadvantaged population.

During the holidays, many of our elderly clients find themselves alone, without any family members with whom to share the holiday. For this population Meir Panim provides not only holiday food packages for nourishment, but also organizes special holiday celebrations and even matches those who are alone with families who open their homes to guests. This enables needy people to not only survive, but to feel less marginalized while they enjoy holiday festivities.

On an emotional level, knowing they can count on us for a daily hot meal reduces clients’ overall levels of anxiety and provides them with hope for the future.

As many of our clients visit our Restaurant-Style Soup Kitchens on a daily basis, friendships are often formed among peers. This provides disadvantaged people with the opportunity to feel a sense of community, which is also crucial to emotional well-being. Meir Panim’s Branch Managers also encourage this sense of community by personally getting to know each person who walks through the door.

Meir Panim hopes to bring an end to the isolation and shame of poverty and see a population with its dignity restored.