Earlier this year, families around the world lamented the shortage of baby formula, which left many bereft of the nutritional staple. While global supply and prices of infant formula have since begun stabilizing, thousands of Israeli families are still struggling to meet the cost of the critical natal foodstuff. This has led the National Food Security Initiative, funded by the Welfare Ministry together with long-standing charity Colel Chabad, to launch an initiative to provide and deliver baby formula to the homes of families in need.

Baby formula is one of the most commonly shoplifted items, according to data presented at the announcement of the initiative’s new phase. This illustrates the critical role that baby formula plays in family life, and the desperation of less-fortunate families who need a way to feed their children.

As the organization implementing the initiative, Colel Chabad has committed to the distribution of no less than 180,000 containers of infant formula, with over 3,000 eligible families receiving five packages of 700 grams each month for free. Participating families will be able to call a hotline or go online to request the support for the type of formula they use, with the containers delivered to their home within three working days.

“Our goal for all these years has been to identify areas where there is a particular need that might otherwise be overlooked and be there to respond,” said Rabbi Sholom Duchman, director of Colel Chabad. “To identify even a small percentage of the population that needs a very basic need. That’s what this program is about. To think that otherwise honest and law-abiding parents are being forced to steal to feed their children is something which can’t exist in our modern society.”... Read More: JPost