In the last few days, a sudden wave of dangerous winter weather has gripped Eastern Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union. The death toll continues to rise as rescue crews evacuate dozens of people from snow-blocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia.

In towns across Bulgaria, temperatures plunged to their lowest since records started 100 years ago. It was so cold in the capital Sofia that ATM cash machines froze up, according to Trud newspaper.

Federation’s partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, immediately activated its emergency winter response system to supplement the critical care it already gives to tens of thousands of Jewish elderly and needy children across the region. JDC mobilizes quickly and efficiently under extreme conditions such as those caused by this deep freeze because an emergency protocol is inherent to its winter relief program throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Especially in the hardest-hit areas of the Balkans and Ukraine, JDC is currently:

• Furnishing heating fuel, blankets, warm jackets, clothes, and boots
• Providing extra food and heating supplies to those who cannot leave home
• Checking in on those who need additional medical care

Among those helped by JDC is Sophie, who lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was found by her JDC social worker in her kitchen—the only room in her small apartment with heating – bundled in a winter hat, a heavy sweater, and gloves. JDC provided Sophie with two electric heaters and will cover her electricity bills for January and February—costs that would consume 60% of her meager monthly pension and be unaffordable. This emergency assistance supplements the daily hot meal and medicines Sophie regularly receives from JDC.

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Core Support enables JDC to respond quickly and effectively to bring relief to our global Jewish family.