Jewish Relief Network Ukraine

DURING THE PAST YEAR WE PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN AID TO AN AVERAGE OF 50,000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS UKRAINE. WE PROVIDED FOOD, MEDICINE, MEDICAL CARE, PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, LODGING, COUNSELING AND MUCH MORE. THESE EFFORTS WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE LOCAL CHARITY LIFECHANGER WITH WHOM WE WORK CLOSELY AND TO WHOM WE PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING, AS WELL AS LOCAL RABBIS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE WORK AROUND THE CLOCK, 6 DAYS A WEEK TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION, WITH PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, UKRAINE, ISRAEL, AND BULGARIA SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS.

FOOD:FOOD VOUCHERS ARE PROVIDED FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO PURCHASE ITEMS THEY NEED MOST. ON AVERAGE, VOUCHERS ARE PROVIDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $100 PER PERSON PER MONTH; CERTIFICATES ARE DISTRIBUTED BY LIFECHANGER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, WITH CAREFUL RECORDS MAINTAINED REGARDING RECIPIENTS. VOUCHERS ARE REDEEMED AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE WHERE THE VOUCHER WAS PURCHASED. ON AVERAGE, 20,000 VOUCHERS ARE PROVIDED EACH MONTH.SOUP KITCHENSSOUP KITCHENS OPERATE IN MANY CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AT THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUE OR JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED. THE KITCHENS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE LOCAL RABBI AND VOLUNTEERS WITH SUPPORT FROM LIFECHANGER STAFF. ON AVERAGE, 15 SOUP KITCHENS OPERATE, FEEDING 1,000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH.PACKAGESDISTRIBUTION OF FOOD PACKAGES HAVE HELPED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SURVIVE THE PAST YEAR. FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, THE STAPLES OF THEIR DIET WERE CONTAINED IN THE BOXES THEY WOULD PICK UP EACH WEEK FROM THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUE OR COMMUNITY CENTER. FILLED WITH ALL TYPES OF FOOD PRODUCTS AS WELL AS PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, THESE BOXES HAVE BEEN A LIFELINE FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO SOURCE OF INCOME AND HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR SAVINGS.

WINTER:THE HARSH WINTER IN UKRAINE WAS A GRAVE CONCERN, AS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LACKED SUFFICIENT MEANS TO PAY TO HEAT THEIR HOMES AND ALSO PURCHASE FOOD. THE SITUATION BECAME EVEN MORE DIRE AS THE POWER SOURCES IN UKRAINE WERE SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED IN THE WAR, LEAVING PEOPLE WITHOUT HEAT OR LIGHT FOR DAYS ON END. TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM FREEZING TO DEATH, WE PURCHASED 150 INDUSTRIAL GENERATORS TO POWER SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNAL BUILDINGS WHERE PEOPLE GATHERED FOR WARMTH AND TO POWER THEIR COMMUNICATION DEVICES. CHILDREN REMAINED IN SCHOOLS AROUND THE CLOCK AT TIMES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY.WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED WINTER SURVIVAL KITS TO 10,000 PEOPLE, THAT INCLUDED BLANKETS, FLASHLIGHTS, POWER PACKS, WATER, READY-TO-EAT-MEALS, CANDLES AND MUCH MORE.

PASSOVER:PASSOVER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS IN THE JEWISH RELIGION; OBSERVING PASSOVER IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO NEARLY EVERY JEW. BECAUSE THE HOLIDAY EMPHASIZES LIBERATION AND FREEDOM (EXODUS FROM BONDAGE) THE OBSERVANCE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF THOSE LIVING THROUGH A WAR, FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM. THE OBSERVANCE OF PASSOVER REQUIRES A LOT OF VERY SPECIFIC FOOD ITEMS, BOTH FOR THE CEREMONIAL MEAL AND THE DURATION OF THE 8 DAY HOLIDAY. SEDERS TO FACILITATE THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE, 30,000 KITS WERE DELIVERED TO FAMILIES ACROSS UKRAINE, CONTAINING EVERYTHING NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THE CEREMONIAL MEAL AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE HOLIDAY. IN ADDITION, 142 COMMUNAL SEDERS WERE HELD IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT CONDUCT THEIR OWN SEDER. KOSHER FOOD PARCELS17,360 PACKAGES OF PASSOVER FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED TO HOUSEHOLDS, SUPPLYING SUFFICIENT KOSHER FOOD FOR THE ENTIRE 8 DAYS. EACH PACKAGE CONTAINED MEAT, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, MATZAH, WINE, GRAPE JUICE, OLIVE OIL, TEA, COFFEE AND MUCH MORE.IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDED 54 TONS OF MATZAH, 198,818 POUNDS OF MEAT, 41,800 BOTTLES OF GRAPE JUICE TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE FOR THE PASSOVER HOLIDAY.