Several months ago, our Federation launched its Ukrainian Jews Relief Fund to provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable Jews in Ukraine whose safety and well-being were in serious peril. Given current events, we are continuing to monitor current events with Ukraine and Russia very closely, but we wanted to take a moment to provide an update on the impact of our community’s support.
Through our Ukrainian Jews Relief Fund, we raised $80,000 to help our Jewish family in Ukraine, with 100 percent of all collected proceeds being distributed to our network of partners as our Federation absorbed all administrative costs. Collectively, the Jewish Federations of North America have allocated $750,000 to our partners the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel and ORT to assist Ukraine’s Jewish population in their time of crisis.
We have provided tens of thousands of the most vulnerable members of our Jewish family in Ukraine, frail elderly and children, with ongoing supplemental services over the past few months – above and beyond the support we offer through our Annual Campaign. Below is a breakdown by region.
Central and Western Ukraine
- 9,074 clients received one-time financial assistance of up to $20 added to their food or bank cards.
- In Kiev, some of the homebound elderly living in the city center had round the clock homecare assistance over the initial and most difficult days of rioting. The extra hours helped these vulnerable clients, ensuring that they were not alone.
- Additional security measures were taken at the Heseds in Lvov, Rovno, Zhitomir, Vinnitsa, and Cherkassy, including overnight shifts for security guards. Emergency first aid kits and fire extinguishers were purchased for 10 Heseds and JCCs in the region.
Odessa and Southern Ukraine/Crimea
- 4,652 clients received up to $35 in additional food assistance. Of those elderly receiving this special assistance, approximately 1/3 live in Crimea.
- Additional security measures, including increased security guard hours and purchase of fire extinguishers and first aid kits for Heseds and JCCs in the region.
Northeast Ukraine
- 6,737 clients received additional financial assistance on their food or bank cards. As in other regions in Ukraine, priority was given to the clients in most dire need.
East Ukraine
- 12,528 clients received additional food assistance. Funds were also distributed to vulnerable clients who do not normally receive food assistance, but have been deemed eligible due to the crisis.
- Funds were allocated to Heseds in Donetsk and Zaporozhie for additional security staff.
While the situation in the region is still evolving, our Los Angeles Jewish community showed its compassion for our Jewish family in Ukraine – making it possible to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of our fellow Jews weathering the emotional, physical and mental effects of the crisis.
We are grateful to our community for being there for our Jewish family in Ukraine!
