How did Pesia inspire future generations to feed those in need?
Founded in 2011, Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) was inspired by Safta (Grandma) Pesia who fed poor people in her small hometown of Volozhyn, Poland. While Pesia did not have much, she felt strongly that it was a basic human right that nobody should go hungry.
In Israel, 630,000 households experience food insecurity, including approximately 800,000 children. Yet 2.5m tons of food is wasted each year. In response Pesia’s grandchildren, Gideon and Pnina, set up Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen).
Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen)rescues produce from restaurants, corporate catering units and supermarkets. Vast amounts of vegetables, bread and other items are delivered to Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) in Tel Aviv and Holon. In turn, these raw ingredients are distributed to shelters, old age homes and other small institutions that supply food as part of their service to the most vulnerable people in Israel.
Some of the ingredients are turned into nourishing soup and distributed directly to people in need – often as the only hot meal they have. The prepared food is collected from Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) by volunteers who, in turn, distribute it to the recipients.
Over one million meals are distributed every year.
Every story matters
MEET ZAHAVA
Zahava escaped to Israel for safety with her young children Lily and Dina during the height of a horrendous and cruel civil war in her birth country. Soon after arriving in Israel, Zahava became involved with a man who turned out to be abusive to her and her children. They were eventually evacuated to safety at a battered women’s shelter but have had periods of homelessness and have suffered from malnutrition.
Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) met the family during one of their stays in a women’s shelter. They ensured Zahava and her children received regular hot, nutritious meals and they keep in regular in touch with Zahava to follow her progress and provide any additional support she needs.
Zahava recently had an accident preventing her from working for several months which added tremendous stress to the family. But thanks to assistance from Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) and various other charities, they are safe and living in a decent, small apartment.
Zahava describes the team at Eat (Pesia’s Kitchen) as their home and family in Israel. She is grateful not only for them feeding her family but for all the support and love they have shown her.
