Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Israel or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.
Volunteer to pack food for the hungry in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem! There are many families and individuals suffering from food insecurities or the inability to afford to buy all of the food they need. This can have a dramatic effect on a person’s life and lead to depression, impede learning opportunities and the pursuit of gainful employment. In cooperation with the Tel Aviv Department of Welfare and Social Services, the food distribution center supplies food parcels to over 350 needy families in order to combat the negative side effects of food insecurity. The packages contain basic food products including sugar, flour, oil, pasta, canned vegetables and more. The Tel Aviv center, which has been operating for 25 years, relies on volunteers to help prepare and deliver the parcels to families in the area. The Jerusalem placement works with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture to distribute 3,000 food baskets each week in 30 cities throughout Israel and a total of 15,000 baskets during holidays such as Passover and the Jewish New Year. A typical basket includes quality food, such as chicken or fish, fruits and vegetables, grains and other nutrition essentials.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, travel health insurance, lunch and dinners are self-catering (budget around $15 per day), round trip airport transfer (approx $20), transportation from orientation in Jerusalem to Tel Aviv (approx $5), daily transportation to project ($3/day, 20-30 min), personal expenses, visa (if applicable).
Tel Aviv-Jaffa is the largest metropolitan area in Israel. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the city boasts a popular coastline, attracting tourists from all around the globe. The project center is located in South Tel Aviv. The area is known for its low socio-economic status and holds onto its historic architecture and style. It is also the center of the refugee community. Jerusalem is Israel’s capital city and a holy city for many different religions. Volunteers at the Jerusalem placement will be living close to outdoor markets and popular tourist attractions. Volunteers will be able to experience Israel’s diversity, as Jerusalem is comprised of neighborhoods that represent the city’s Jewish, Muslim, Armenian and Christian populations. Jerusalem is only a short distance from the famous Dead Sea and a short hour away from Tel Aviv.
Orientation for Volunteers Arriving Before February 2019 (included):
Your volunteer adventure will start off with a GoEco orientation at a fantastic hostel in the center of Jerusalem. The orientation is a great base to meet fellow volunteers and travelers and includes the following:
The GoEco orientation will begin at 12:00 PM on arrival day. The next morning, you will travel to Tel Aviv with public transportation. Full travel details to Jerusalem and the project will be provided upon registration.
Orientation for Volunteers Arriving in and after February 2019 (included): Orientation will take place in Tel Aviv on Sunday upon arrival.
As a volunteer at this project, you will have the choice between volunteering in Jerusalem or in Tel Aviv. In both placmeents, you will be able to directly impact the lives of many families, enabling them to feed themselves and their families. The food items are purchased by the center, donated by various manufacturers or gathered during community food drives. Your job will be to sort the food and create the packages that will be delivered, paying close attention to those families that have special diets or need specific supplies such as baby formula. While this task is simple in nature, the effect that it has upon the families that receive packages is enormous.
Finally, the actual distribution of food is done by volunteers, soldiers, and/or corporations who join this cause or assist with transportation for those families who wish to keep their privacy. Some families come to the Jerusalem location to pick up their baskets.
Tel Aviv placement: You will spend the day sorting, organizing and packing food into boxes although it is important to be flexible in case the program director needs your assistance in a different way. You will work 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. Fridays and Saturdays are free.
Jerusalem placement: Volunteers will work three days per week, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM with a lunch break. Volunteers will be assigned three work days that are between Sunday and Thursday. The days are dependent on the current needs of the project. Please note: This placement is one week only.
Please note that volunteer activities and schedules can change at any time based on the needs of the project.
Holidays: Please note that the months of September and October have several holidays that may affect your trip.
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
Israel has a fantastic selection of historic and religious landmarks. It is easy to travel to other areas of the country for the day or a weekend including Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, the Dead Sea and Eilat. Nature lovers can hike the Jesus Trail and visit the Nimrod Fortress, travel to the Negev Desert to see shooting stars, enjoy the plant diversity of the Bahai Gardens in Haifa and view archeological ruins in Caesarea or the grottoes in Rosh Hanikra.
Check out a list of tours you can join for an additional fee, here.
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