Each year, as summer winds down and a new school year approaches, many families in Israel face a reality far different from the joy and anticipation that should mark this season. For low-income families — especially for olim (new immigrants) and single-parent households — the “Back to School” season is not about new beginnings, but about anxiety, financial strain, and deep uncertainty.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our Back to School Project, running each August, is one of the most practical and powerful ways we come alongside these families — and you can be a vital part of it. For just $150 per child, we provide a full kit:
- A high-quality backpack ($100 value)
- Essential school supplies and equipment ($50 value)
Our goal this year is to reach 500 children in need across Ashdod, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, and Ramle. That’s 500 lives that can be lifted, equipped, and blessed because someone like you chose to say, “I care.”
Let us share with you the story of one family who was deeply touched by this project last year.
The mother, Marina, is an olah living in Ashdod, and was preparing to send her young son to first grade — a big transition in any child’s life. But her situation was uniquely difficult:
“We have two children, ages six and three. My husband was called to the reserves on October 7th and has been away on multiple deployments since. It’s been incredibly hard. I was left alone with our small son during this important moment in his life — his first day of school.”
Imagine the fear she felt. Her little boy, stepping into a new school without his father by his side. She didn’t know what to buy, where to buy it, or how to afford it.
“There was a long list of school supplies, and I was overwhelmed and completely lost. Everything was scary. But praise God — there were people who helped us. It made the stress so much lighter. We received a backpack, school supplies, a lunchbox, bottles, and even a gift card for textbooks and other supplies we will need throughout the year. It was a real blessing.”
You were the answer to her prayers. And this year, you can be the answer to many more.
The need is real.
Inflation has made basic school items increasingly expensive in Israel. Many of the families we serve are already struggling — some are new immigrants trying to navigate an unfamiliar system, others are single moms, or families with fathers still serving in the army post-October 7th. Each gift, each backpack, becomes so much more than a school kit. It becomes a message of hope, support, and God’s faithfulness in a time of need.
We invite you to join us!
- A gift of $150 sponsors one child.
- A gift of $600 helps four children prepare for the school year with dignity and joy.
- A gift of $1,500 empowers ten families who might otherwise feel forgotten.
Together, let’s carry the burden with them. Let’s lighten their load. Let’s make sure every child walks into school this fall with a full backpack, a confident heart, and the knowledge that they are not alone.
Will you help us bless 500 children this year?
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.”
Proverbs 19:17