(Courtesy of Yad Leah) Since Oct. 7, Yad Leah has tirelessly supported the courageous people of Israel. As economic hardships and daily struggles mount, Yad Leah’s mission of providing high-quality clothing has become more vital than ever, bringing much-needed light to dark days.
Just last week, Yad Leah volunteers delivered warm winter baby clothing to newborns at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital. A few days later, boxes of clothing were distributed to seniors at a soup kitchen. In another instance, a woman living in a hotel with her six children for over a year explained that the lack of closet space forces her to replace her family’s entire wardrobe each season. “Replacing clothing every season is so expensive,” she told Mayrav Harris, manager of the Yad Leah store in Kiryat Arba. “Thanks to Yad Leah, we don’t have to compromise on quality or style, even in such an unstable situation.”
To continue this flow of kindness, Yad Leah is launching the “Share Your Light” Chanukah initiative, inviting people to support their Israeli brothers and sisters in three meaningful ways:
Volunteer at the Passaic Warehouse: Help fold, sort and pack clothing to send to Israel.
Create Kesher Kits at Your Chanukah Party: Purchase new winter gear such as hats and scarves, and Yad Leah will provide Kesher cards, cellophane bags, and “Packed with Love” stickers so community members can send personalized gifts and messages to Israeli soldiers and families.
Donate to Ship Clothing: Every dollar donated allows Yad Leah to ship $12 worth of clothing to Israel, effectively multiplying the impact of a donation 12 times.
By the end of this year, Yad Leah will have sent eight containers of clothing to Israel representing countless hours of dedication from Yad Leah volunteers. From clothing drives and volunteer efforts by schools, shuls and families to pack boxes at the warehouse, to clothing manufacturers and individual sponsorships, this collective effort has provided nearly 10,000 pieces of clothing valued at $10 million.
What began as a small idea between two high school friends 20 years ago — sending Americans’ extra clothing to families in Israel — has grown into a full-scale operation. Today, Yad Leah’s 15,000-square-foot warehouse employs seven full-time staff members who process thousands of clothing items to serve diverse communities across Israel.
“Poverty doesn’t care about politics,” said Jessica Katz, director of Yad Leah. “In every spectrum of the Jewish community, Yad Leah is there. Every dollar donated transforms into hope, light and dignity for Israelis in need.”
This Chanukah, be the light and join Yad Leah in bringing warmth to those who need it most. To sign up for “Share Your Light,” visit yadleah.org/chanukah.
