Community members Karen Gerson and her son Gilli are traveling on a volunteer trip to Israel to help its agricultural sector from Dec. 14 to 25. The trip, organized by Israel Food Rescue, is one of many taking volunteers to Israel to help prevent a food shortage.
As the Israel-Hamas War continues, Israel’s agricultural sector has been hit hard. Many Israeli workers have been called to reserve duty in the Israel Defense Forces, and more than 25,000 foreign workers are no longer available, according to Israel Food Rescue.
Karen and Gilli Gerson are two of hundreds of volunteers who are stepping up to help with farming and other agricultural work.
“After Oct. 7, we were all trying to grapple with the horror,” Karen Gerson said. “As the days went on, we were trying to connect and find ways to be there for our family. Gilli and I feel as though we are being ambassadors on behalf of our Kansas City Jewish community.”
Israel Food Rescue’s volunteers will be picking crops, sorting produce, packaging food for transport and other duties necessary to prevent a food shortage. The organization also requires “tremendous flexibility” due to the war, weather conditions and staffing needs.
Rescued food will be distributed freely to nonprofit partners of Leket Israel, Israel’s national food bank.
Karen Gerson served as director of informal Jewish education at Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City for more than 12 years and is on the board of directors of First Call Alcohol/Drug Prevention and Recovery. Her son, Gilli Gerson, age 20, is studying business and finance at the University of Kansas and is a graduate of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
When not working, the Gersons plan on spending time with Israeli family and Kansas City connections.