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.
The JRA primarily relies on volunteers who serve in a variety of ways, including packing boxes in its Northeast Philadelphia warehouse, delivering boxes of food to 90 zip codes in the Philadelphia area, providing seniors and the disabled rides to the doctor and grocery store, making, and visiting isolated members of the community. Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and a wide range of community organizations including Jewish camps, Hillel branches, synagogues and churches, colleges, schools, and corporations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, on an average 1,000 volunteers participated monthly to pack and deliver food packages at JRA's Food Distributions.
The organization serves mostly elderly and Jewish clients, 73% of whom are over 65 and 65% of whom are Jewish, but it also serves people of all ages and backgrounds. They began with three volunteers serving 16 Russian speaking families with just one U-haul truck and purchased food from BJs. In 2022, JRA served over 6,000 individuals of all backgrounds in more than 3,400 households.
JRA services include the following:
- A monthly supplemental box of Kosher pantry staples and fresh produce (from September through May)
- Donated household items, toiletries, period products, kids' apparel, diapers and adult incontinence supplies
- Holiday appropriate food items for the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover
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.