Katrina Disaster Relief Organizations

Folks, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has established a mailbox to accept donations for humanitarian aid for members of the Jewish and general communities touched by Hurricane Katrina. Jewish communities in the storm region have asked that donations NOT be sent to them directly as they are not prepared to handle them at this time.

Several other Jewish organizations are accepting donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization of North American Jewish federations, established an emergency mailbox to accept donations to aid both the Jewish and general communities affected by the storm. B’nai B’rith has also activated its disaster relief fund to collect money for the storm’s victims, and the Union for Reform Judaism opened a disaster relief fund as well.

As soon as damages are assessed, the Reform group said, it will decide which organizations are best equipped to aid victims and will make donations to these groups.

Contributions through the UJC can be made online at www.ujc.org or by mail at United Jewish Communities, P.O. Box 30, Old Chelsea Station, N.Y., 10113, attention: Hurricane Katrina.

Mark the memo section of checks with Katrina.

To donate through B’nai B’rith, checks should be made payable to the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund and sent to B’nai B’rith International, 2020 K Street, NW, Seventh Floor, Washington, D.C., 20006; or online by going to www.bnaibrith.org and clicking on the link for disaster relief.

Contributions through the Union for Reform Judaism can be made at www.urj.org/give. Information on the Disaster Relief Fund can be found at www.urj.org/relief.

Contributions through Chabad-Lubavitch can be made online at www.chabadneworleans.com, or by mail at Katrina Relief Fund, Chabad-Lubavitch of Louisiana, 7037 Freret Street, New Orleans, La. 70118.

Contributions through the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism can be made online at http://www.uscj.org/Hurricane_ReliefYou_6553.html, or by mail at USCJ Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund; 121 Congressional Lane; Suite 210; Rockville, Md. 20852. Checks should be made payable to “USCJ”; mark the memo section with USCJ Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund.

Here is a list of other hurricane relief organizations that you can call or donate to:

• American Red Cross, (800) HELP NOW [435-7669] English, (800) 257-7575 Spanish

• Adventist Community Services, (800) 381-7171

• Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, (800) 848-5818

• Church World Service, (800) 297-1516

• Convoy of Hope, (417) 823-8998

• Mennonite Disaster Service, (717) 859-2210

• Salvation Army, (800) SAL-ARMY [725-2769]

• United Methodist Committee on Relief, (800) 554-8583

• Catholic Relife Services, (800) 919-9338

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Update:

Note: Chabad has set up a new mailing address, as the New Orleans address is flooded out.

The new address is:
Jewish Hurricane Relief Fund
770 Eastern Pkwy
Brooklyn, NY 11213