The empty lunch box sent to party leaders - and the data behind it

Ahead of the start of the school year, party leaders received an unusual shipment in recent days: an empty lunch box. Behind the move is the organization "Nevet - A Sandwich for Every Child," which seeks to raise the issue of the plight of students who arrive at school without breakfast and the need, according to them, for a national program on the subject.

Among those who received the box were Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eizenkot, Benny Gantz, Chili Tropper, Yoaz Hendel, Gilad Erdan, Aryeh Deri, Yitzhak Goldknopf, Moshe Gafni, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Golan, Mansour Abbas, and Yousef Jabareen.

Written on the box was: "A small sandwich. Big potential. What do children really get from the mid-morning meal?". Attached to the box were data from a study conducted among 456 educators that examined the impact of breakfast on students.

According to the study, 71% of educators reported a significant decrease in verbal and physical violence among students who receive breakfast, 77% reported a significant change in academic achievement, and 40% reported a decrease in the number of students absent from school.

About 20,000 students currently receive breakfast from the organization daily, in 500 schools and 150 local authorities. In total, the organization distributes about 3.5 million meals a year. According to Nevet's data, about 100,000 students in Israel need a regular breakfast at school.

The organization calls on party leaders to support the promotion of a national program for school breakfasts, so that the response to students who arrive at school without food will not depend only on the activities of non-profits and local initiatives.

"Tens of thousands of students arrive at school every day hungry and without food, whether due to neglect and dysfunction on the part of their parents or due to the poor economic situation in the family. Every child should start the school day full, free to learn and realize their potential. We call on party leaders to make school breakfast a national policy," the organization stated.