The Non-Profit Organization for Children in Distress in Haifa and the North is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to improving the lives and opportunities of children and families living in financial hardship. Our work focuses on providing practical, immediate assistance while also investing in the children’s education, health, emotional well-being, and future. Our organization is operated entirely by volunteers. We work closely with social workers, schools, welfare departments, and educational institutions in Haifa and the surrounding communities, who identify children and families in need and refer them to us for assistance. Monthly Food Assistance One of our most important ongoing activities is the distribution of monthly food baskets to families in need. For many families, these baskets provide essential support and help ensure that children have adequate food at home throughout the month. This assistance has become particularly important in recent years, as the economic situation of many families has become increasingly difficult. We strive to provide this support consistently, so that families can rely on receiving essential food supplies month after month. Educational Support and School Supplies We believe that financial hardship should never prevent a child from learning and participating fully in school. We therefore purchase and provide educational equipment for children from disadvantaged families, including computers, school backpacks, school shirts, and essential school supplies and consumable materials. A computer can be especially important for a child whose family cannot afford one, enabling the child to complete homework, participate in online learning, and keep pace with classmates. Bridging the Gaps – Our Fourth Year This coming year will mark the fourth year of our “Bridging the Gaps” educational project, which operates in three disadvantaged neighborhoods in Haifa: Neve Yosef, Neve Paz, and Yizraelia. The project provides children from families in need with individualized tutoring or instruction in small groups in Hebrew, English, and mathematics. These children often begin with significant educational gaps compared with their classmates. Without additional support, these gaps can become increasingly difficult to overcome as the children progress through school. Our goal is not simply to help children with their homework. We aim to give them the knowledge, confidence, and individual attention they need to close these gaps and have a fairer opportunity to succeed academically alongside their peers. Emotional Support During Wartime The children and families we serve have also experienced the emotional impact of the wars and prolonged periods of insecurity in Israel. During the past year, we funded workshops designed to help children cope with stress, anxiety, and the emotional challenges resulting from the wars and the difficult circumstances in which they have been living. We believe that educational support must go hand in hand with emotional support, particularly for children who are already coping with economic hardship. Medical and Dental Assistance We continue to provide essential medical assistance to children whose families cannot afford services that are not fully covered by public programs. Among other forms of assistance, we help disadvantaged children obtain eyeglasses, ensuring that poor vision does not become another obstacle to learning. We also help families pay for necessary dental treatments, enabling children to receive care that their parents would otherwise be unable to afford. Summer Camps Every summer, we help fund summer camps for children from families in financial difficulty. This assistance serves two important purposes: it gives children the opportunity to enjoy a safe, enriching summer experience alongside their peers, while allowing their parents to continue working during the summer months rather than having to remain at home to care for their children. Enrichment Activities We also believe that children from disadvantaged families should have access to opportunities beyond the classroom. We therefore provide financial assistance for children to participate in enrichment activities such as art, theater, sports, and music. These activities can develop creativity, confidence, social skills, and a sense of belonging. For a child whose family cannot afford extracurricular activities, our support can make the difference between being included and being left behind. Our Commitment Our organization works to address the needs of the whole child: food, education, health, emotional well-being, and opportunities for personal development. We believe that every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and develop their abilities regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. With the continued support of donors, we can maintain our monthly food assistance, expand educational support, continue the Bridging the Gaps project, provide essential medical and dental assistance, and offer children opportunities that many families in need simply cannot afford. We are deeply grateful to the PEF Israel Endowment Funds for providing a channel through which donors in the United States can support our work. Their support enables us to continue reaching children and families who need help the most. Our goal is simple: to ensure that poverty does not determine a child’s future. Tax-deductible donations from the United States can be made through the PEF Israel Endowment Funds.