Reading Time: < 1 minutes

The Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Southwest, Hillel Newman, joined volunteers with IsraAid at their Los Angeles distribution center in Boyle Heights on May 11. IsraAid is an Israel-based humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief around the world. Distribution centers were set up in response to COVID-19 and are located in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, among other cities. 

Volunteers at the centers package and distribute food and relief supplies to the most vulnerable communities, especially seniors and the homeless. During the first month of activity, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. received food and other supplies from the IsraAid’s centers. 

“Yesterday I volunteered at one of IsraAid’s distribution centers to help with the 3,000 packages that go out daily to those in need. I applaud this activity and the immense social impact it has on the communities it serves. The State of Israel salutes the volunteers who donate their time to help others and I encourage anyone who is able to volunteer to assist in this important endeavor or any other activity to help those in need,” said Consul General Newman. 

The Consul General has also been busy during the COVID-19 crisis helping Israelis in the southland get back home. Among them were some passengers on a cruise ship off the coast of Los Angeles who were able to leave the ship and return home safely.