By: Nativia Bühler 

As the morning light breaks over central Israel, the large metal doors of our charitable partner Pitchon Lev’s new 2,000-square-meter logistics center roll open. Forklifts hum across the floor, volunteers move swiftly between stacked pallets of food, and the smell of fresh produce fills the air.

At the heart of this operation are the ICEJ-funded refrigerated food truck and a second emergency “War Truck,” made possible through the support of Christian partners in South Africa, Switzerland and around the world. In response to increased needs, another refrigerated food truck supported by ICEJ-Germany will soon be on Israel’s roads. 

These vehicles have transformed how food and emergency supplies reach Israel’s most vulnerable families.
 
06:00 AM | The Logistics Hub
The day begins inside the massive logistics center in central Israel, where over 500 tons of emergency supplies and equipment have already been collected and distributed nationwide since the war began.

Before the arrival of the ICEJ-supported trucks, transporting refrigerated food donations on a large scale was nearly impossible. Families often received dry goods alone, filling stomachs but lacking vital nutrition.

Today, dairy products, meat, and fresh produce can be safely delivered across Israel, restoring dignity and health to thousands of households.

“Thanks to the refrigerated vehicles, donations requiring cold storage have increased by more than 600%”, explains Peleg, a local manager. “We can now add an average of four additional nutritious items to every food basket”.

For struggling families, this means proper meals for children, strength for the elderly, and the reassurance that someone cares.
 
09:00 AM | Loading the Trucks
Volunteers form long lines, lifting crates and carefully packing baskets that will soon reach homes across the country. Today’s mission is part of a nationwide distribution effort that has grown dramatically.

In 2023 alone, more than 255,000 food baskets were delivered across Israel, a 40% increase compared to 2022. In 2024, this project again assisted over 25% more families and individuals than the year before.

The ICEJ-supported trucks have made this expansion possible.

During the final months of 2023, the emergency “War Truck” became a lifeline for displaced families, transporting over 30,000 food parcels to evacuated families living in hotels across the country – having lost homes, routines, and any sense of security overnight.
 
11:30 AM | On the Road
 As the refrigerated truck heads onto the highway, its temperature monitors stay steady, protecting hundreds of food baskets packed just hours earlier. Inside are dairy products, meat, and fresh produce – items that must arrive quickly and safely to remain useable.

By maintaining a strict cold chain throughout every journey, the truck ensures that each basket arrives fresh, nutritious, and ready to support families who rely on this food for the week ahead.
 
2:00 PM | Distribution
 At each distribution point, long lines form quietly. Many families arrive early, pulling small trolleys behind them or carrying large shopping bags. Some even bring suitcases, knowing the baskets will be heavy and filled to the top with food for their households.

Here, the numbers being helped turn very personal.

For many families displaced by the war, the ICEJ-funded trucks often provide the only fresh protein they will eat all week. For the elderly living alone, these deliveries offer both nourishment and reassurance they have not been passed by.

“The support and partnership of the ICEJ has been crucial to everything we’ve accomplished,” Peleg shares. “These vehicles have given us new logistical capabilities to assist more people than ever before. They are a powerful expression of compassion.”

5:00 PM | Lasting Impact
As the sun sets, the trucks return to the logistics center, empty of supplies after a full day of distribution. This project is not only meeting urgent wartime needs, but it is also working to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in Israel.

The war and its challenges have not ended and neither has the battle against poverty. Yet through strong partnerships and support, hope continues to roll forward on every mile these trucks travel.
 
How You Can Help
This work is made possible through the support of Christians around the world. Together, we can continue to extend a lifeline to families across Israel facing crippling poverty in wartime.

Your support is indeed a powerful expression of compassion. Please continue to donate to our Future and Hope fund.

Main Photo Caption: ICEJ Vice President of AID and Aliyah Nicole Yoder participates in a food distribution in Ashkelon during the war