Ashkelon Teens pack food parcels for Passover

Every year before Pesach, teens collect basic food items from manufacturers, from supermarkets and from Ashkelon residents, and pack "kosher for Pesach" food parcels, to be distributed to needy families. This year they were joined by soldiers and volunteers, and the Teen Center is a hive of activity as everyone works to pack as many parcels as possible before the chag. I came to see the action , it was like a production line. Teens packing , loading mini vans and distributing them acording to social sevice's lists .

Solidarity Mission

Marc Terrill and Jessica Bronfein were in Ashkelon to meet with Mayor Benny Vaknin, see first hand the effect of the war on the city and its residents, and visit some of the projects supported by The Associated.

While they were in Ashkelon they also met with a family whose home took a direct hit from a missile. Luckily family members were in the bombshelter and escaped injury, while their home was destroyed.

See the video diary filmed during their visit HERE

A visit to the Teen Center to meet with Dafna Biton and the Youth of Ashkelon: AMEN volunteers, also a project supported by The Associated.

During the war AMEN teens entertained kids in shelters and the "Medical Clown" project was very active in the Barzilai Medical Center.

Notice the fabric quilt proudly displayed on the wall at the Teen Center. The quilt has messages of solidarity and support from the Baltimore Jewish Community to Ashkelon.

Dinner in Ashkelon with Mayor Benny Vaknin.

On 17th Dec 2008, the Youth Council held a festive event at the Teen Center, to celebrate the close of a successful year of youth activity in Ashkelon, while looking forward to 2009, to another even better year !

Mayor Benny Vaknin was there to greet the youth. Mayor Benny Vaknin told the youth that he too had been a member of the Youth Council. Avner Maimon (Head of Culture Dept), Yakov Attias (Head of Youth Dept) and of course Sigal Ariely, were also there to celebrate the occasion.

The Youth Council is composed of about 60 teens, with representatives from every school in the city. They are active in many different spheres and initiate many volunteer activities and events for the benefit of Ashkelon youth, and all the residents of Ashkelon.

The Chairman of the Youth Council - Asaf Suissa, welcomed the new Mayor on behalf of the youth. He gave a presentation showing the activities of the Council over the year, and outlining the plan of action for the 2009. Nicole

Asaf Suissa, Chairman of the Youth Council