Charities struggle with rising prices

Latet reports that prices per holiday food basket have risen by over 20%.

By RUTH EGLASH
food 298.88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
food 298.88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The rising cost of food staples such as flour, rice, pasta and oil have left charities working with needy families short of essential supplies ahead of the high holidays, the aid organization Latet reported Sunday. The organization, which hands out more than 50,000 food packages each year around holiday time and works with 120 charities in 80 locations countrywide, said that it has noted a 22.85 percent increase in the overall cost of the baskets. "Despite certain optimism regarding the strength of Israel's economy, the ability of the poor to purchase a basket of basic food supplies has become an almost impossible reality," commented lawyer Eran Weintraub, CEO of the non-profit organization. "We have seen a dramatic rise in food prices over the past year." According to Latet, the rising cost of certain foods has caused the total value of each basket to reach in excess of NIS 200, while in previous years each basket cost some NIS 150. Each package includes 22 items such as sugar, flour, coffee, rice, couscous, canned goods, pasta, oil, hummous, cakes and soup mix. Fruits, vegetables, meat and other perishable goods are not handed out, but ahead of major festivals like Rosh Hashana and Succot, Latet also includes honey, wine, chocolate spread and other sweet snacks in its food parcels. "The rising market prices of basic staples, as well as a marked decrease in donations, will mean either that we include fewer items in our holiday package or that fewer families will be able to benefit from our work," said Latet in a press release. Weintraub added that the looming recession meant that "even families where both parents are working are not able to achieve the minimum needed to provide nutritional security." "We just hope that Israelis will come forward, as in previous years, to help other families less fortunate than themselves enjoy the festival," he concluded.