Every year, as winter approaches, Chasdei Naomi volunteers come together to bring warmth and comfort to elderly people and Holocaust survivors across Israel. Through our nationwide network of branches, we distribute heaters, blankets, and warm clothing to those who need them most.
Over the coming weeks, dozens of elderly individuals and families will receive this assistance, helping them face the colder months with greater comfort and dignity.
But this year, we decided to add something extra to our winter distribution.
Last Thursday, on a chilly, rainy day, our teams went out to visit several elderly people we regularly support. During almost every visit, we heard something similar: A heater is certainly helpful, but on a cold winter evening, there is nothing quite like a pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove.
Some shared memories of the soups they used to prepare for their children. Today, however, many struggle to get to the market, carry groceries home, and gather all the ingredients needed to prepare a proper meal.
That gave us an idea.
Three Soups, Just Like Home
Following these visits, we decided to include an additional box in our winter packages, containing everything needed to prepare three comforting homemade soups:
Classic Chicken Soup – the kind everyone remembers, just like Grandma used to make.
Lentil Soup – warm, nourishing, and full of flavor.
Bean and Tomato Soup – a hearty, comforting meal for a cold winter day.
Each box includes chicken, carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, celery, zucchini, red and green lentils, dried and canned beans, tomato paste, cooking oil, spices, and many other ingredients.
We also include printed recipe cards in large, easy-to-read letters, making it simple for everyone to follow along.
These special soup packages are distributed alongside the winter essentials, including heaters, blankets, and warm clothing.
Their Words Touch Our Hearts
Within the very first week of distribution, we began receiving heartfelt messages from the people who received these packages. Their words remind us that sometimes, a simple gesture can mean so much more than we imagine.
Rebecca K. wrote:
“To the entire Chasdei Naomi team,
When the box arrived, I opened it on my kitchen table. Chicken, carrots, celery, canned goods, dried vegetables, and all kinds of wonderful ingredients…
It had been three years since I last made chicken soup, ever since my husband passed away. Who was I going to cook for?
On Sunday, a large pot of soup was simmering on my stove, and my granddaughter came over for lunch. She told me it tasted exactly like it used to.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Rebecca K.”
Another recipient shared:
“Hello,
I am 96 years old. Since the winter of 1944, the thing I remember most is the cold. It has never really left me.
This week, a heater arrived at my home, along with a box filled with ingredients to prepare several kinds of soup.
One of my last memories of my mother is of her making lentil soup every Friday in our family home.
I am not much of a cook, but the recipe was simple, and the soup turned out beautifully. I even saved half for the next day.”
The Baron family wrote:
“We are a couple, both over 80 years old.
Last Thursday, it was pouring rain. You arrived at our home, soaked from the rain, and still took the time to ask if there was anything else we needed.
We never imagined that someone still remembered us.
That evening, we sat down to a bowl of warm bean and tomato soup with bread. And our home was warm.
The Baron Family”
Thanks to You, the Warmth Keeps Spreading
These touching messages reached us during the very first week of distribution. And there are still more boxes waiting in our warehouses, ready to be delivered to elderly people and families who need them.
A heartfelt thank-you to every volunteer who went out in the rain last Thursday, to the dedicated teams at our branches who are preparing the packages, and to every donor who makes it possible for us to reach one more doorstep.
Because sometimes, helping someone stay warm means much more than providing a heater. It means reminding them that they are not forgotten.
Winter Is Only Just Beginning
Many elderly people and Holocaust survivors are still waiting for a heater, a warm blanket, and the ingredients to prepare a comforting homemade soup.
You can help us bring warmth into their homes by sponsoring a soup ingredients box or a complete winter package.
Your donation can warm a home, fill a pot with soup, and remind someone that they are not alone.