With the start of the school year in full swing, we at Meir Panim have been working around the clock to make sure that families in need get the school supplies they need for the upcoming school year.

According to a recent study, 26% of Israeli parents cannot afford school supplies for their children this year, with an additional 30% not having what they need for distance learning. For those living below the poverty line, over 50% cannot acquire school materials and backpacks.

Proper education is one of the most vital elements to ensuring children below the poverty line can break out of the cycle of poverty. In addition to preparing thousands of meals a day, Meir Panim’s branch managers go above and beyond, working closely with school principals throughout the country to identify which children or students are most in need to give these kids the necessary tools to succeed.

In the last couple of weeks, Meir Panim also worked directly with families to ensure they had backpacks, notebooks, pens, and pencils for this coming school year. Additionally, with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, our incredible group of branch managers and volunteers made sure to get computers for students who will begin the year with distance learning.

This is all part of our mission: not only to support those in need but to help them break out of the cycle of poverty by providing them with the tools and skills they need to succeed.