Ilanit Chafuta is the manager of Meir Panim’s Or Akiva branch. Like thousands of families in Israel, Ilanit has her son, David, in the army.

“Our soldiers need our complete effort and attention while protecting this country,” says Ilanit. She has organized a large-scale drive, collecting food items, clothes and more, for the soldiers at the front.

“We are in a crisis, and Meir Panim will rise to the challenge,” she continued.

Monday, escorted by the police, Ilanit made deliveries to three “Iron Dome” bases.

Each package included home-baked goods, chocolate milk, peanuts, wafers, personal hygiene items and more.

While continuing its daily food distribution and services to Israel’s needy, Meir Panim has already delivered over 2,000 care packages to soldiers stationed along the Gaza border. The following thank you letter was received from an army base “adopted” by Meir Panim volunteers:

We just wanted to say thank you!
Thank you for the thousands of snacks and sweets you send us.

Thank you for the pizza pies, the hamburgers and shnitzels you bring.
Thank you for the kind letters and the warm words.
Thank you for filling our needs … from drinks to socks to batteries for our flashlights.
Our mission is to be there for you! We are grateful and delighted that you are here for us as well!