| QUESTIONS | |
 | WHY WAS THE ORGANIZATION MEIR PANIM STARTED? |
| HOW EXACTLY DO YOU HELP THE HUNGRY PEOPLE? |
| HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES MEIR PANIM HELP? |
| IS THERE ANY DISCRIMINATION AT MEIR PANIM? |
| HOW DOES YOUR MEALS FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM WORK? |
| ARE YOUR MEALS KOSHER? |
| DO YOU ALSO OFFER ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO YOUR RESTAURANTS? |
| WHAT IS POWER OF GIVING? |
| WHAT PERCENTAGE OF MY DONATION REACHES NEEDY PEOPLE? |
| HOW CAN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HELP MEIR PANIM? |
| MY COMPANY HAS A MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM. CAN YOU GIVE ME INFORMATION ON HOW MEIR PANIM CAN BENEFIT? |
| CAN I USE MY DONATION TO HONOR A LOVED ONE, OR HIS/HER MEMORY? |
| I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A BEQUEST TO MEIR PANIM IN MY WILL. HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT? |
| IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A MONTHLY PLEDGE (RECURRENT MONTHLY DONATION)? |
| I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT MEIR PANIM IN ISRAEL & VOLUNTEER. |
| IS MY DONATION TAX-DEDUCTIBLE? |
| WHERE CAN MEIR PANIM BE CONTACTED? |
| ANSWERS | |
| Q | WHY WAS THE ORGANIZATION MEIR PANIM STARTED? |
| A | Meir
Panim was started by Dudi Zilbershlag in answer to the economic distress in Israel,
and to provide immediate effective solutions for the increasing hunger scourge
threatening to undermine the well-being of Israel's indigent population. Unfortunately,
with the situation going downhill instead of upward, the number of Israel's poor
has reached over 1.5 M to date, with one in three of Israel's children (714,000)
living below the poverty line (according to most recent statistics released by
the National Insurance Institute). The organization was named MEIR PANIM in memory of his child MEIR who passed away at a young age due to a rare liver disease, and who departed at the time that these plans were being formulated. Since Meir was unable to digest food, he wanted others to be able to enjoy food. Also, he wanted to launch a project built on cooperation; to create a bridge of tolerance and understanding, and generating a spirit of community among all types of Jews. |
| Q | HOW EXACTLY DO YOU HELP THE HUNGRY PEOPLE? |
| A | Meir Panim started out with one modest soup kitchen, or rather "RESTAURANT", in Jerusalem about five years ago. Due to the increasing need, the organization has mushroomed fourteen relief centers feeding 274,000 people monthly, including 160,000 children. The ideal of Meir Panim is to preserve the dignity of the people served; therefore, the kitchens are designed and operate as typical restaurants, except for the fact that the food is "free". The meals are high quality three-course dinners cooked by professional chefs and served by volunteers. For those who can't come in personally, like elderly or handicapped, Meals on Wheels are available and the meals are personally delivered by volunteers. (Click Donations to donate meals by secure order form). |
| Q | HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES MEIR PANIM HELP? |
| A | Currently, Meir Panim feeds 5,900 diners every day, including over 8,000 children. This includes home delivered meals for elderly, shut-ins or those unable to come personally to the restaurants. The Children's Meals program which ensures disadvantaged youngsters of a warm, nutritious meal daily, is a very important component in Meir Panim's charity work. This initiative satisfies the children's hunger, gives them a feeling of equality amongst their more affluent peers, and prevents them from being labeled as poor. |
| Q | IS THERE ANY DISCRIMINATION AT MEIR PANIM? |
| A | Absolutely not. Meir Panim is an egalitarian, non-profit organization serving the needy population without regard to race, color or creed. |
| Q | HOW DOES YOUR MEALS FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM WORK? |
| A | Unfortunately, many many families, especially those with more children, have been adversely affected by continuous budget cuts. Some families are in such bad shape that they can't afford to send along a lunch with the child, never mind afford the cost of the school's lunch. Even worse, there is sometimes no hot meal awaiting them when they come home from school. Naturally, when a child is hungry, it affects his behavior, performance and self-image in a very damaging way. Meir Panim feels that EVERY CHILD DESERVES ONE DECENT MEAL A DAY; therefore, we have taken the responsibility to provide hot nutritious lunches to disadvantaged children in schools and daycare centers throughout Israel every day. In fact, we are working on establishing a new giant facility in the Negev area where 50,000 lunches will go out to the needy children in this greatly distressed area. (Click here to donate Meals for Children by secure order form) |
| Q | ARE YOUR MEALS KOSHER? |
| A | Absolutely yes |
| Q | DO YOU ALSO OFFER ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO YOUR RESTAURANTS? |
| A | Yes,
we provide them with free help on legal or medical issues through volunteer physicians
and lawyers. Also, we have Vocational Training Centers which are especially
helpful for new immigrants who don't speak the language, people who are handicapped
in different ways, or people who have been fired from their jobs and cannot find
employment. One of the newest additions to Meir Panim programs is Professional Training and Counseling for Battered Women and Occupational Rehabilitation for individuals with emotional challenges who are hired to work in the Meir Panim kitchens. We are like a social/service charity organization all in one, working together with the government, who refers these people to us - to help them. |
| Q | WHAT IS POWER OF GIVING? |
| A | Through this initiative, we are giving all classes the opportunity to participate and become partner in our relief work. Do you have the Power of Giving? - we ask. Yes, everyone has an appliance or piece of furniture that they want to replace some time or other. Why should it go to waste when it can easily be repaired and refurbished and make someone else happy? This is the idea behind power of giving. Here, everyone-not only a well-to-do person- can become a "giver". Meir Panim has 22 POG warehouses where people donate household appliances, furniture, toys or clothing which our volunteers then categorize and refurbish and put out on display. Then people come in and pick out what they need - for a nominal fee (or none) - and we deliver the item to them by POG trucks. This service is a very important component in Meir Panim's charity mission. |
| Q | WHAT PERCENTAGE OF MY DONATION REACHES NEEDY PEOPLE? |
| A | Roughly 85%. Meir Panim tries very hard to maximize donation dollars by limiting advertising and office expenses. Meir Panim has 8,000 registered volunteers who work wholeheartedly for this effort. However, we do have to pay managers, chefs and office and warehouse staff, which takes up about 15%. We will be glad to furnish our Annual Financial Statement upon request. |
| Q | HOW CAN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HELP MEIR PANIM? |
| A | We
can use lots of help, due to the large increase in demand for our services. Both
young and old can lend a hand, to help us perform our duty to the Jewish people.
First of all, you can tell family and friends about our vital programs, spread
the word in your shuls and communities, distribute flyers and collect money, etc.
When making a simcha, it is important to remember the hungry in Israel, by donating
to this important cause, or by co-sponsoring another child's simcha in Israel.
It is also a great merit to remember a poor bride or groom in Israel when marrying
one's offspring. Children, especially, should be made aware through parents or teachers that there are children across the ocean who are less fortunate than them - and they can connect with them by making a Mitzvah project at their schools, or by sharing their Bar/Bat Mitzvah gifts with them. Meir Panim has a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program with suggestions how to make this special occasion more meaningful. We also have beautiful Simcha seating cards to enhance your simcha. |
| Q | MY COMPANY HAS A MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM. CAN YOU GIVE ME INFORMATION ON HOW MEIR PANIM CAN BENEFIT? |
| A | Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer and send it completed and signed with your gift. We will do the rest. |
| Q | CAN I USE MY DONATION TO HONOR A LOVED ONE, OR HIS/HER MEMORY? |
| A | Certainly.
You can make a donation in memory of a loved one, Yahrzeit dedication, or in honor
of someone's Birthday, Anniversary, or Birth. We will notify the other party of
your thoughtfulness and/or send a plaque upon request. Meir Panim offers Donation Opportunities (click here) that can help you decide how to allocate your gift. You can bring endless joy and merit to deceased family or friends, and create a living and lasting monument to your loved one through a gift to Meir Panim. Click on Memorial Dedications to find out how. A beautiful memorial stone plaque will prominently be displayed in Israel for eternal memory. |
| Q | I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A BEQUEST TO MEIR PANIM IN MY WILL. HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT? |
| A | Those caring and generous individuals who find place in their hearts to provide for Meir Panim and its humanitarian activities in their will, will become partners with us and will be gratefully acknowledged. There is no gift more meaningful than the "Gift of Life", as you will be providing "life" for hungry people by helping Meir Panim fill their basic needs. For information on how to make a Bequest to Meir Panim in your will or codicil to will, please click Bequest. |
| Q | IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A MONTHLY PLEDGE (RECURRENT MONTHLY DONATION)? |
| A | Yes. Our donation form has a special box where you can insert the amount you wish to donate monthly for x months. Click Donation Form to make a donation. |
| Q | I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT MEIR PANIM IN ISRAEL & VOLUNTEER. |
| A | You are welcome to visit any of our locations at any time, and we will gladly let you volunteer. Please contact us at usaoffice@meirpanim.org and we will make arrangements. Planning to join a Solidarity Mission trip to Israel? Be sure to make arrangements to come visit us and we will show you around and let you partake in our wonderful work. |
| Q | IS MY DONATION TAX-DEDUCTIBLE? |
| A | Yes. Meir Panim is a 501© 3 tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. You will receive a printed receipt from us. |
| Q | WHERE CAN MEIR PANIM BE CONTACTED? |
| A | Meir
Panim's main office is located at 5316 New Utrecht Avenue, Bklyn , NY 11219. Our Telephone Number is: (718) 437-9100 or Toll Free 1-877-736-6283. Please see "OFFICES" for more US and international branches. Contact us by e-Mail at : usaoffice@meirpanim.org |
