Yoav, a 20 year old lone soldier serving in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, had just completed another week on base.
It had been a week filled with long hours, demanding missions, responsibility, and challenges. As his fellow soldiers spoke excitedly about going home for the weekend, Yoav remained silent. He had no home to return to and no family waiting with a warm meal and a welcoming embrace.
That same week, a package from The Lights of Orit organization arrived at the base. Inside were personal hygiene products, snacks, a handwritten letter, and a small note that read:
"Thank you for protecting us. We are here for you."
For many, it may have seemed like just another package. For Yoav, it was a reminder that he was not alone.
The Lights of Orit organization operates with a simple but powerful belief: every soldier serving the State of Israel deserves to feel valued, supported, and cared for. Whether they are lone soldiers, combat troops in the field, soldiers from families facing financial hardship, or young men and women who simply need someone to listen, the organization works to provide something that cannot always be found in military equipment or supplies: a feeling of home.
Behind every care package, every warm meal, every visit, and every encouraging word stands a community of people who choose to bring light into the lives of others. They understand that the strength of a nation begins with the strength of its soldiers.
Sometimes, a great light begins with a small act of kindness. When we help light the path for one soldier, that soldier continues to shine that light for all of us. The Lights of Orit maintains a database of lone soldiers and frequently sends out packages particularly at the time of a Jewish Festival.
