In November 2024, Leket Israel launched a new project to support the residents of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. Roughly 3,000 people were not able to evacuate the city as it faced ongoing rocket fire from southern Lebanon. Most of those who remained were either elderly or families with special needs children and were barely able to leave their homes to buy groceries during the continuous attacks.
In partnership with the Chabad of Kiryat Shmona, every day Leket delivered hot meals and hearty soups directly to their doorsteps of those who stayed, ensuring they had access to fresh, nourishing food. Since the project’s inception, 12,060 meals and 243,000 lbs. of fruit and vegetables have been distributed to those in need.
Shulamit Tal, a local resident, stayed in her home with her husband and two children. Leaving was simply not an option.
“If we had a way to evacuate, we wouldn’t have hesitated, but my family’s health situation simply didn’t allow it. We stayed at home in an empty city, with no way even to get basic supplies.”
For Shulamit’s family and dozens of others who remained, simply stepping outside was nearly impossible. Residents needed fast access to shelters, as tensions mounted each day. Shulamit described the city as a ghost town—empty streets, shuttered shops, and an overwhelming silence filled with uncertainty. Often, she risked venturing to a nearby city to buy basic groceries, since everything locally was closed.
Shulamit’s son, who is ill, needs regular dialysis treatments. At times, air raid sirens and mortar fire interrupted their journey to the hospital, yet they had no choice but to press on. Amid the oppressive, ever-escalating stress of daily life, a ray of light—a glimmer of hope—finally emerged.
Thanks to Leket Israel’s collaboration with the Chabad of Kiryat Shmona, Shulamit, her family, and others who stayed behind were able to receive cooked meals, rich soups, and crates of fresh fruit and vegetables directly at their doorsteps.
“Every day, we received something new and enjoyed a hot meal. It gave us strength—not just physically, but also for our souls. Knowing that someone cared about us, that someone was watching over us, made us feel a little less abandoned during this challenging time.”