UJC to raise $10 million for relief effort

January 6, 2009

NEW YORK (JTA) -- The North American Jewish federation system will raise $10 million for southern Israel.

The United Jewish Communities announced Monday that it will raise the funds to augment humanitarian and social needs programs that its overseas partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, already run in southern Israel, which has been under attack by Hamas missiles.

The JDC will provide more case workers for 25,000 elderly and disabled residents, expand consulting to municipalities to bolster emergency preparedness, expand trauma relief counseling to children, reinforce networks of emergency volunteers, fortify security structures for the elderly and boost small businesses that have suffered due to the ongoing attacks.

The Jewish Agency will provide 23,500 children with respite trips away from the conflict zone, purchase computers for children so they can continue schoolwork, provide supplies and provisions for bomb shelters, and provide counseling and therapy for immigrants housed in absorption centers.

The federation system is also planning a series of solidarity rallies and will send a delegation of leaders to Israel to survey the situation, according to the UJC.
In coming days the UJC also will open a fund-raising mailbox.

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