Lone Soldiers Support

Supporting IDF Soldiers Serving
without Family Nearby

Thousands of IDF soldiers serve without active or involved parents or immediate family in the country. Some come to Israel on their own, learning the country and the army at the same time. Others grow up without a family that can support their daily needs. And when the uniform comes off, there is no familiar place to go, no family meal waiting, no one checking in after a long week. Their service continues, responsibilities continue, but the small anchors of everyday life are missing.

In coordination with the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense, American Friends of LIBI funds practical support that fills those gaps, ensuring every lone soldier feels consistently cared for, even when family is not close by.

Your Donation Provides Lone Soldiers with
a ‘Home Away From Home’

Housing 
Support

For lone soldiers, there is no parent doing laundry before the next week on base. No kitchen table to sit at on Friday afternoon. No quiet room to close the door after a long stretch of service. Through the Association for Israel’s Soldiers’ Warm Home program, LIBI USA supports housing that gives lone combat soldiers a private room in a fully equipped apartment, free of charge. Soldiers are also supported by dedicated coordinators who handle apartment-related needs, offering the kind of practical backup family would normally provide.

Holiday Gifts 
and Assistance

While others return home for the holidays, lone soldiers remain on base or alone, without the meals, routines, and rhythms that mark these days. LIBI USA funds holiday support that helps lone soldiers feel remembered during these moments. Holiday gifts and assistance reach soldiers year-round, offering something tangible to carry with them back to base, and a sense of appreciation for their choice to serve and protect.

Morale
Boosts

Weeks of service without family support can wear on lone soldiers in quiet ways. LIBI USA supports morale-boosting activities and organized fun days that give lone soldiers time off base and space to reconnect with themselves and others in similar situations. Soldiers share meals, spend time outdoors, talk openly, and recharge before returning to the demands of active service.

Flights Home
to Family

For many lone soldiers, the decision to enlist in the IDF is shaped by ideology and a strong sense of purpose, yet it is often accompanied by homesickness, especially when family is so far away. Through LIBI USA–funded airfare assistance, eligible lone soldiers are given the opportunity to visit their families once or twice during their service, subject to IDF approval. Covering these flights is a practical expression of appreciation for the choice they made to come to Israel and serve in the IDF, recognizing their contribution to Israel’s security and the personal challenges of serving without family nearby.

Educational Support for Life After Service

Many lone soldiers complete their service while fully supporting themselves financially. Through the Association for Israel’s Soldiers’ Shaping the Future initiative, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, LIBI USA supports lone soldiers pursuing higher education at Council for Higher Education–approved institutions. Each participant receives a generous living stipend per academic year, with additional support in applicable cases, and must complete 90 hours per year of community service.

“I came to Israel to be a combatant in the IDF. My family is far away, but thanks to your generosity, I have a place, my place, that I can call ‘home.’”

(SARAH M., lone soldier from France)

“It’s not easy being a lone soldier. There are weeks when the lack of family weighs on me heavily. This apartment does not replace my family, but I feel at home there. It’s a real chance which I so appreciate. Thank you for your help and support.”

(BRUNO A., lone soldier from Brazil)

More Ways We Support Israeli Soldiers

LIBI USA supports Israeli soldiers by funding welfare programs that address educational, social, medical, and recovery needs beyond the IDF’s defense budget.

Lone Soldiers Support

Supporting IDF Soldiers Serving
without Family Nearby

80

500

[XXXX]

[XXXX]