At Meir Panim, we don’t just feed the hungry–we change lives. While our branches prepare and distribute thousands of hot meals a day, it is so much more than that. Meir Panim’s staff provide support which ensures that our constituents are not only well-fed but so that they are living well too.

Vika, a mother of two, is a recent example of our efforts. She reached out to Meir’s Panim’s Or Akiva branch when her life was at an all-time low. She had nothing and her children had been taken from her by Child Protective Services. Meir Panim immediately stepped in: getting Vika therapy, setting her up with welfare and disability payments to get her back on her feet, moving her into an apartment–and of course, hot meals!

Now, instead of being on the receiving end, Vika has become a consistent volunteer at Meir Panim. Her sons are living with her again and she is back on her feet!

Even during an unprecedented global pandemic, Vika has been able to maintain steady employment because of the foundation she was able to build with Meir Panim’s help.

Meir Panim changed the lives of Vika and her family. Her story is a testament to the fact that with the right resources breaking the cycle of poverty is possible!