Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union have a higher percentage of elderly people, single parent homes, sick and disabled, and extremely poor families than most other countries. Of the more than 2 million Jews living in 426 Federation communities, more than one-third live below the poverty line. Many lack even the most basic tools for survival, such as food, clothing and medicine.

We provide hot meals daily at more than 40 kosher soup kitchens for thousands of impoverished Jews, and deliver food packages to nearly 20,000 more who are too ill or frail to leave home. We also distribute high-quality clothing, shoes and medications and provide professional medical care in clinical settings -- all without charge.

Because the elderly account for so many of the needy, we also operate senior activity centers. Our goal over the next decade is to develop a network of assisted living facilities for the aging Jewish population with no family nearby.

The Federation operates an expanding network of orphanages for both orphans and those from broken families - a holistic, warm environment where these desperate children not only heal, but thrive.

The Federation offers these services in partnership with the Claims Conference, Joint Distribution Committee, Ezra Foundation and Global Jewish and Relief Network, with the support of local and international philanthropists. This strategic alliance ensures that no group of people is left unnerved.