The nutritional security initiative consists of rescuing and distributing food nationwide. With three logistic centers located in the north, center and south of Israel, Latet is one of the leading food banks and operates as an umbrella organization for 180 local NGOs across 105 communities, providing them with food products on a regular basis. These local associations then redistribute the food to people in need. 60,000 families receive assistance from Latet every month. Every year, Latet rescues and distributes between $25-$30 million worth of food.[10]
The organization primarily rescues and distributes dry food products (canned food, rice, pasta, oil, sugar, flour, and more)[11] and over the past five years has also started distributing dairy products and poultry. The modus operandi of the organization relies on long-lasting partnerships with leading companies in the food industry (Osem, Strauss, Tnuva, Coca-Cola, Unilever, etc).[12] Since 2015, Latet has been working in cooperation with the Manufacturers Association of Israel's Association of Food Industries to encourage, regulate and expand food rescue in Israel among food companies. This collaboration has led to more than 20 new food companies joining the food salvaging circle in 2016–2017.[13] These partnerships have social (assist families in need), economical (save food destruction costs), and environmental (avoid food waste) advantages.
Along with the food rescue, food purchasing takes place regularly in order to provide all the necessary products for the basic food package Latet distributes.
According to the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel, 45,000 out of the 189,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel live below the poverty line.[14][15] Latet's Aid for Life program[16] was created in 2007 with the goal of giving direct assistance to Holocaust survivors in need. The program provides the most impoverished Holocaust survivors with a holistic aid package tailored to their needs:
- A monthly food box is delivered to the survivor's home every month and is built in cooperation with nutritionists to adapt to elderly people's needs.
- Ongoing social support: each survivor is partnered with an individual volunteer who visits him on a regular basis. Latet also hosts festive dinners for Jewish holidays and social events throughout the year. In 2018, 1,300 volunteers kept the survivors company on an ongoing basis and brought them to dozens of events that were organized across the country.
- Emergency Fund: the fund was created to supply medical and paramedical items and services such as eyeglasses, incontinence products, dental care, emergency alert systems, and household maintenance. These are expensive products most survivors in need cannot afford. The emergency fund helps them resolve issues quickly and allows the survivors to regain their independence.
- Home restorations: some survivors live in run-down apartments that often lack accessibility. This project has been implemented since 2014 to ensure survivors’ homes are safe and secure.[17] The restorations are managed by Latet staff and led by a professional contractor, at no cost to the survivors. Within 4 years, the project has renovated 1,550 apartments,[18] improving the survivors' quality of life and personal security.
Latet Youth[19] is an organization recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education[20] that is dedicated to the nurturing of Israeli teens as caring citizens guided by values of volunteering and mutual responsibility. The teenagers spend time visiting and volunteering in different places (schools, community centers, retirement homes, etc.). During the last year of the three-year program, the youth implement social micro-initiatives within their own communities, developing their entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
The youth organization operates nationwide and brings together 2,500 participants from all backgrounds. 40% of the participants are defined as "at-risk youth" and 70% come from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background. Every year, Latet Youth's members carry out 150 social micro-initiatives. Some of these initiatives have received national media coverage, like the "Thank You Day"[21] and the "Gift Room at the Soroka Medical Center".[22]
The project's aim is to bring about change in Israel's national priorities and to raise social awareness about poverty and food insecurity.[23] Year long, Latet is committed to carrying out various activities in order to fulfill this goal:
- Alternative Poverty Report: this is an annual report which sheds light on the most up-to-date trends in poverty and nutritional insecurity in Israel. The report is published by Latet in collaboration with the ERI research institute.[24] This report is a multidimensional analysis[25] of what poverty means and presents alternative numbers in contrast to the narrower definition of poverty by the National Insurance Institute of Israel.[26]
- Poverty conference: this annual conference is one of the most prominent events related to poverty and social gaps, while discussing solutions for reducing poverty.[27] The conference molds the public discourse and gathers associations' directors, academics, economists, politicians, private companies' directors, artists, etc.[28]
- Public fundraising campaigns: twice a year, around the holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Passover), Latet runs extensive fundraising and awareness campaigns. As part of these activities, the organization organizes food drives in the largest supermarket chain Shufersal in order to collect food products from customers. In 2017, 36,500 food boxes (containing dozens of food products) were collected from the supermarket chain.[29] For Rosh Hashanah, Latet holds an annual telethon on national television in partnership with leading live TV shows, like Master Chef Israel, during which the organization raises hundreds of thousands of Holiday meal for people in need.[30]
- Large-scale public displays are held in important public places in order to raise the awareness of the general population[31][32] to the poverty issue.
Israel