Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Contributes to Haiti Earthquake Response

Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh today announced a $5,000 emergency grant to help victims of the devastating earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday. The funds will flow through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which is responding immediately and already has supplies on the way to Haiti.

“In 2010, I had the privilege of traveling to Haiti with a national group of Federation leaders. We witnessed the destruction from the earthquake in that year and saw our collective response. Once again, we are able to provide critical support to assist our overseas partner organizations on the ground.”

Jeffrey Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

JDC is providing critically needed medical resources — including wound care supplies, surgical instruments, fluids, IV starters, sutures, gloves, masks, face shields and clean linens — to treat the wounded in Haiti. JDC, which has been active in that country since 2010, is working with its longtime partner the Afya Foundation to ship materials to a hospital in Aquin. That hospital will distribute the materials to other Haitian hospitals. As the extent of earthquake damage unfolds, JDC continues to assess emerging needs.

“We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of life in Haiti and send our prayers to a people and nation in mourning yet again. As we have done so many times in the past, we’ll be there to offer care, healing, and opportunities to empower Haitians to build back better and safer. It’s all the more fitting, and poignant, that we are doing this work during the Jewish month of Elul, when we engage in introspection and work to mend the broken parts of our personal and collective lives,” said JDC CEO Ariel Zwang.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is one of several Federations around the United States and Canada that are providing aid. The Pittsburgh Federation’s grant is part of longtime support for disaster relief; the Federation also provided assistance following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

About JDC

JDC — the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a leading Jewish humanitarian organization. Working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities, JDC rescues Jews in danger, provides aid to vulnerable Jews, develops innovative solutions to Israel’s most complex social challenges, cultivates a Jewish future and leads the Jewish community’s response to crises. For over 100 years, the JDC’s work has put the timeless Jewish value of mutual responsibility into action, making JDC essential to the survival of millions of people and the advancement of Jewish life across the globe. For more information, visit JDC.org.

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