To:
Rabbis, Synagogue Leaders, IPA Key Contacts, InfoNet

From:
Betty Ehrenberg, Director of International Affairs

Re: Relief Efforts for Central America

The floods and mud slides in Central America caused by Hurricane Mitch have left over 10,000 people dead and over one million homeless.

In response, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and several other American and international Jewish organizations are accepting donations from the public to assist the victims on a nonsectarian basis.

The Orthodox Union is co-operating in the relief efforts of the American Joint Distribution Committee for the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America.

To assist in this humanitarian effort please contact the JDC’s Central American Relief Coordination Office and ask for Marsha Presky (212-885-0832) or Laina Richter (212-885-0889).

At this time, only financial donations are being accepted, and those received by each agency will be pooled. Decisions as to what types of relief efforts to support will be made by the Joint Latin American field staff after they have assessed the situation and determined appropriate local partners with whom to work. The scope of these efforts will be based, in part, upon the amount of money raised.

Checks in support of this work may be made to JDC and sent to:

JDC
711 Third Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10017

Please include “Central America Relief” on the check or in a note with it to ensure that the money is placed in the proper account.

Thank you for your interest in assisting the hurricane victims in Central America.