Jewish Relief Agency
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The Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) is a charitable organization, associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, whose aim is to identify and feed needy Jewish clients in the Greater Philadelphia region. Almost 57,000 Jews, representing nearly a quarter of the Jewish population in the five counties of Greater Philadelphia, live in poor or lower-income households. Many of these disadvantaged Jews are recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union, whose difficulties with learning English and unfamiliarity with the established agency structure have left them outside the existing network of Jewish aid.
In an attempt to fill this gap, the Agency was established in September 2000. Beginning with three volunteers serving 19 families, the Jewish Relief Agency has since grown to become a major volunteer-driven organization. Today, approximately 400 volunteers of all ages participate in delivering food and social support to over 1600 low-income Jewish families each month. The JRA's unique approach includes a monthly door-to-door distribution of food staples including canned fruits, salmon, soups and pasta. This distribution strategy has proven particularly effective in reaching those who are housebound or who have limited means of transportation.
A wide range of Jewish organizations have participated in the monthly food distributions. This ranges from synagogue groups from all major branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist), to camps, local branches of Hillel, and JDate. Reflecting its charitable mission and broad outreach, the JRA is a partner of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
[edit] External links
- Jewish Relief Agency, a project of Guideline Services, Lubavitch House
- Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
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