Meir Panim, Israel’s largest supplementary welfare organization, was established in 2001 to provide practical solutions to the critical problems facing Israel’s poor, the ranks of which have swelled dramatically in the last few years.

Meir Panim provides nutritious food though our chain of free restaurants and food deliveries to schoolchildren and the elderly and homebound. Meir Panim also offers household furniture and appliances warehouses, vocational training programs, after school youth clubs, employment rehabilitation and senior citizens’ clubs. Additionally, as part of our “Employment Horizons” programs, Meir Panim administers organizational and community-based programs to help impoverished individuals with families become members of the working world, thus reaching financial independence and improving their family budgeting skills.

Meir Panim’s reason d’etre is to prevent poverty, distress and dependence on governmental aid or charity, and to build self-esteem and independence amongst needy populations. Meir Panim involves the entire community in its projects, reaching the largest possible population and making use of all available resources. Meir Panim places special emphasis on preventing the perpetuation of poverty and dependence on the organization and its services; we work instead to expedite the restoration of an independent lifestyle.