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. As of March 2007, over 3,500 volunteers have assisted in food distributions and in a typical month, approximately 400 volunteers of all ages participate in delivering food and social support to over 2,200 low-income Jewish families.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.