Reaching out to those affected by the floods

In the wake of the catastrophic flooding which has overwhelmed parts of the Midwest, the United Jewish Communities(UJC) and the Federations have opened an emergency mailbox to funnel humanitarian aid to the devastated areas. Funds from the Central U.S. Disaster Relief Fund will support humanitarian, non-sectarian needs on the ground. No administrative costs will be deducted from funds raised;100% of collected funds will go directly to aid the victims. Individuals can contribute online or by mail, making checks payable to:

United Jewish Communities P.O. Box 30 Old Chelsea Station New York, NY 10113 Attention: Central U.S. Disaster Relief Fund

Fred Zimmerman, of Nashville, chair of the UJC Emergency Committee, said UJC has provided critical relief for a wide range of disasters and tragedies, from September 11 to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, wildfires and storms -- in addition to its ongoing work on behalf of the Jewish people worldwide.

"We're all heartsick at the devastation, and we want everyone affected to know that just as this part of the country helps sustain us, we're going to help sustain them through these disasters." Zimmerman said.

The UJC/Federation system raised than $10 million in response to the Southeast Asia tsunami, which helped the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee deliver critical assistance. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, UJC/Federation raised more than $28 million to help the Jewish and general communities rebuild.