Jewish Relief Agency

The Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) is a charitable organization and independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which serves over 6,000 diverse low-income individuals across Greater Philadelphia.

Jewish Relief Agency

Abbreviation	JRA
Founded	Incorporated April 14, 2008 (2008-04-14)
Founders	Marc Erlbaum, Rabbi Menachem Schmidt
Tax ID no.	26-2578017
Legal status	501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, United States
Region	Greater Philadelphia area, Chicago, Greenwich, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, MetroWest New Jersey, South Jersey
Services	Helps needy Greater Philadelphia area individuals by providing monthly food packages and assisting with home repairs and daily tasks they are unable to do on their own, enabling them to live successfully in their own homes. Provides support, leadership, and resources to assist other communities throughout the country to build hunger relief programs.
President	Marc Erlbaum
Treasurer	Greg Jaron
Revenue (2014)	$1,086,329
Expenses (2014)	$906,238
Employees	6 (in 2018)
Volunteers (2013)	15,500
Website	www.jewishrelief.org

JRA's work is fueled by volunteers who serve those in need in a variety of ways – including, packing and delivering a box of food, giving seniors and the disabled rides to the doctor and grocery store, making friendly visits to isolated members of the community, and more. JRA volunteers come from many backgrounds, age groups, and abilities. This includes a wide range of community organizations including Jewish camps, Hillel branches, synagogues and churches, colleges, schools, corporations and others. On an average, 1,000 volunteers participate monthly to pack and deliver food packages at JRA's Food Distributions.

Founding and history

In an attempt to fill the aid gap they saw in the Greater Philadelphia Jewish community, the Agency was founded in September 2000 by Marc Erlbaum and Rabbi Menachem Schmidt. They began with three volunteers serving 19 Russian speaking families with just one U-haul truck and purchased food from BJs. Today, JRA serves over 6,000 individuals of all backgrounds in more than 3,200 households.

Services and volunteer opportunities

JRA provides many services to its recipients, and primarily through volunteer participation. JRA recipients are eligible for services if their household income is within 150% of the Federal Poverty Level and they live in JRA's service area (some exceptions may apply based on need).

JRA services include the following:

• A monthly supplemental box of Kosher pantry staples and fresh produce (from September through May)
• Donated household items, toiletries, kids' apparel, diapers and adult incontinence supplies.
• Other services, dependent on volunteer availability.

JRA expansion locations

Various communities, inspired by JRA's work in the Greater Philadelphia region, have opened JRA programs in their locations including Chicago, Greenwich, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, MetroWest New Jersey, and South Jersey. These programs are operated independently of the Philadelphia organization.