Being a lone soldier is extremely difficult. Lone soldiers travel overseas and are forced to adjust to a completely different culture and language with no immediate family to come home to. These soldiers serve the state of Israel as total volunteers. This March I’ll be running for the lone soldier center in memory of Michael Levin in the Jerusalem marathon.
The lone soldier center assists lone soldiers before, during, and after their service. Too often lone soldiers are on their own on Shabbat and holidays. They sit in their small apartments eating cold food on old, used furniture on weekends, far different than the warm, family based environment they had been used to before. The lone soldier center strives to provide warm meals as well as a real community for soldiers to eat, celebrate, and integrate into Israeli culture with.
In order to create a strong, warm community, the center hosts numerous events each month. These events range from Friday night dinners to social events and workshops for lone soldiers. Advisors and mentors are available for various types of questions and help. The lone soldier center’s activities also enable lone soldiers to expand their social networks, helping them with their army service and also enriching their personal lives.
The lone soldier center’s basic needs program provides lone soldiers with supplies, food, equipment, and clothing they need both on and off base. Some other things that the center provides for lone soldiers are food vouchers, large backpacks, clothing, shoes, winter gear, socks, toiletries, draftee kits, and more.
Please support me in the Jerusalem marathon for the lone soldier center in memory of Michael Levin.
