When Abrahams House Fellow Milena Dubnov looked around the headquarters of Makom Lalev, she saw empty, sad walls.
Makom LaLev is a grassroots nonprofit in Israel focused on supporting people who are struggling with mental health challenges, addiction, and homelessness. At its heart, the initiative provides warm meals, care, and human connection to individuals who are often overlooked and marginalized by society. Volunteers show up not just to deliver food, but to listen, engage, and help people feel seen and valued in a compassionate community.
Makom Lalev exists to support those in need. But Milena believed something just as important: the people who give their time and heart deserve care, too. Volunteers are the soul of the organization. If they feel inspired, valued, and comfortable, their impact multiplies. So she took initiative.
As part of her leadership journey through Abrahams House, Milena organized a special event — a volunteer appreciation project designed not just to improve the space, but to strengthen the community within it. The idea was simple: paint the walls of the Makom Lalev headquarters and transform it into a warmer, more welcoming environment.
What began as a practical improvement quickly turned into a powerful bonding experience. It was amazing to watch individuals come together as a team — collaborating, encouraging one another, and taking ownership of the space they help bring to life every day.
For Milena, the experience became a living lesson in leadership. She learned that leadership isn’t always about titles, it’s about noticing a need and stepping up. It’s about believing in an idea strongly enough that others feel your enthusiasm and want to join you.
“You have to be truly excited about your vision,” she reflects. “That’s how you inspire others to believe in it too.”
Today, the walls of Makom Lalev do more than brighten the room. They tell a story of hope and gratitude, and of a leader who understood that when you invest in the people who give, the entire community grows stronger.
Reach out to any of our Directors to learn more about JLIC, Abraham’s House, and to support our programming.
Related Posts