For many visitors to Israel, a trip means seeing the country, visiting family, staying in hotels or spending time at the beach. But for volunteers at Leket Israel, coming to the Jewish state also means finding a way to give back.
Speaking with Arutz Sheva, four Leket Israel volunteers described why they chose to devote their time to helping rescue surplus food and support Israeli farmers, particularly in the wake of the October 7 massacre.
“When you volunteer, you discover another side of the country that people never talked about," said Orly Barda, who traveled from France with a group of young women.
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“I come from Paris and I'm here with a group of young girls," she said. “I come here to volunteer and to help Israel because I think it's very, very important to show our support from France."
Michelle Mayer explained that Leket welcomes volunteers from around the world to sort surplus produce donated by farmers throughout Israel.
“We have volunteers come from all over the world who actually sort food and vegetables," Mayer said. “It's all produce, excess produce that we receive from farmers all over Israel. And then afterwards it goes to all 340 non-profits all over Israel."
For many of those volunteers, she said, the experience adds another dimension to their time in the country.
“Usually people come here because they want to give something extra," Mayer explained. “It's all good and nice that you want to visit Israel, go to hotels, enjoy the beach, but people want to give extra value."
That desire has become particularly pronounced since October 7, she added.
“It's so important to visit Israel, go to the beach and see the perfect sides of Israel. But in the end, people want to give extra. And this is, we give them the opportunity to actually do extra, which is volunteering."
Howard Peck came to Israel for two weeks and decided to devote half of his trip to Leket.
“We're here today volunteering at Leket. I'll be here all week, working mornings and afternoons," Peck said. “I came to Israel for two weeks and I'm giving one week to Leket and I'm enjoying it. It means a lot."
700,000 meals. One holiday. Together, we can make sure no one is left behind>>>
For Peck, knowing where the rescued food ultimately goes makes the work particularly meaningful.
“This goes to people that are hungry, they need food, families of soldiers that need food," he said. “And to me, that was a great need. And it's an honor to help fill that need."
Shlomo Fisher, a former farmer, said his own agricultural background gives him a special appreciation for Leket's work.
“I used to be a farmer, raising vegetables, all kinds of stuff. And I have appreciation for this," he said. “I came here and just the people, the energy, everybody works together."
“Unprivileged people really benefit from what you see here. And there's many," Fisher added.
For him, one of the most remarkable aspects of the operation is its ability to transform surplus produce into food for those who need it.
“Just the feeling that you can take something that somebody doesn't know what to do with it and feed thousands of people. It's amazing."
Barda said volunteering also provides something that simply donating money cannot.
“I thought it was a very good idea to do something with my own hands, you know, to help," she said. “Not just to give charity, because when you give charity, you're not really, like, involved in things. When you're working with your own hands, you're also, like, it comes from your soul."
Mayer noted that Leket's volunteer efforts have expanded since October 7 to address the severe labor shortages faced by Israeli agriculture.
“One of our volunteering opportunities is also helping our partner farmers, because since October 7th, we realized there's a need," she said.
Israeli farmers found themselves without many of the foreign and Palestinian workers on whom they had previously relied, even as they remained responsible for producing food for the country.
“The farmers are stuck with no Thai workers. They have to feed the country, no Palestinian workers, and they needed more help," Mayer explained.
Leket responded by adapting its volunteer program and providing free transportation to send volunteers directly to partner farms throughout Israel.
“If it's gleaning, seeding, picking, whatever the farmer needs at that time," Mayer said, volunteers are sent to help.
She added that visitors frequently thank Leket for allowing them to participate, although she believes the gratitude should go in the other direction.
“A lot of people, when they come here, they actually thank me for the opportunity. ‘Thank you for letting us come to volunteer.’ But actually, thanks to them that we can do that work."
For volunteers arriving from abroad, she said, physically working with Israel's produce and soil can become an unexpectedly emotional experience.
“They're so happy they can actually touch the food and vegetables," Mayer said. “We have also volunteers who go to all of our partner farmers, and they love when they can actually touch the soil. And they get so emotional."
For Mayer, that emotional connection reflects something deeper than the work itself.
“It's part of what I love seeing. It's the attachment. They really love Eretz Israel," she said.
“And from far, you know, what can you do? You can do so much from far. And when you come to Israel, you just have to take the chance and come and volunteer."
700,000 meals. One holiday. Together, we can make sure no one is left behind>>>