In January 2012, a sudden wave of dangerous winter weather gripped Eastern Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union.

As temperatures dipped to deadly extremes, social workers from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), checked on vulnerable elderly residents. With support from CJP, the JDC is able to offer emergency assistance to Jewish communities in need overseas.

Among those helped by JDC is Sophie, who lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was found by her JDC social worker in her kitchen—the only room in her small apartment with heating—bundled in a winter hat, a heavy sweater, and gloves.

JDC provided Sophie with two electric heaters and will cover her electricity bills for January and February—costs that would consume 60% of her meager monthly pension
and be unaffordable. This emergency assistance supplements the daily hot meal and medicines Sophie regularly receives from JDC.

JDC relies on support from Federations around the country in order to mobilize quickly and efficiently when extreme weather conditions occur. An emergency protocol is inherent to its winter relief program throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Especially in the hardest-hit areas of the Balkans and Ukraine, JDC is currently:

• Furnishing heating fuel, blankets, warm jackets, clothes, and boots
• Providing extra food and heating supplies to those who cannot leave home
• Checking in on those who need additional medical care

When his father died in 2008, Eli was just nine, and his only sister, Sarah, was away at college. Because their mother was unable to care for Eli, Sarah made the brave decision to become her brother’s guardian.

During this difficult time, money was tight, and yet this young brother and sister team found ways to move forward. This summer, Eli will return for his third season at a local Jewish summer camp, an experience made possible thanks to financial assistance from the camp, from CJP’s Jewish Educational Overnight Camping Initiative and the Jim Joseph Foundation.

For Eli, camp offers summer fun and so much more. There he soaks up the educational, recreational and emotional benefits that come from a stable, caring community of peers and mentors. He’s won an award for his prowess on water skis, and he’s known as an enthusiastic fisherman and budding young artist.

For Eli’s sister, in addition to the financial assistance, the benefits include a month-long summertime break and the excitement of watching Eli develop new skills and lasting friendships. When she graduated from college, members of the camp’s alumni association helped her network and find a job. While many challenges lie ahead for Eli and Sarah, they know they have the support of the Jewish community to count on.

Your gift to CJP’s Annual Campaign helps provide scholarships, grants and essential services to families in need. You can help kids just like Eli by making a gift today.

Unprepared for her newborn’s health problems, Nicole Spiewak remembers, “Sometimes it was hard to hold my head above water. Those weekly visits from my Visiting Mom were a lifeline for me.” CJP provides funding for the Visiting Mom’s ® program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

Minutes after Nicole Spiewak gave birth to her second child, Noah, the baby was whisked away to the NICU at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Nicole and husband Dan received the startling news that part of Noah’s esophagus was missing and his stomach was connected to his trachea instead of his esophagus, a birth defect called EA/TEF. Immediate surgery was required, and Noah was transferred to Children’s Hospital in Boston just four hours after being born.

"We were blindsided,” says Nicole, a psychotherapist turned stay-at-home mom.

As a mental health professional, without family nearby for support, she knew she needed to reach out for help. A social worker at Children’s connected Nicole with Visiting Moms ®, a program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service that provides consistent support and companionship to new moms, regardless of faith or background.

CJP provides funding for the Visiting Moms® program—one of the many ways CJP helps members of the Jewish community and others in need.

"Those weekly visits from my Visiting Mom were a lifeline for me,” says Nicole. Noah ended up spending much of his first year in the hospital and Nicole was right there by her baby’s side. But spending so much time in the hospital left her feeling alone and missing her toddler daughter terribly.

"Sometimes it was hard to hold my head above water. My Visiting Mom provided the emotional support I needed,” says Nicole. “She was there just for me, reminding me to take care of myself, so that I would have the strength to take care of my family."

Now that Noah is two years old, and doing great, Nicole still thinks about her Visiting Mom: “I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through that first year without her support—support that I continue to gratefully carry with me today."

You can help families just like Nicole’s by making a gift today.