FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 19, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Graf-Martin Communications for International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Canada
shannon@grafmartin.com
(519) 342-3703 x 107
The Fellowship’s donors have helped over 80,000 Ukrainians and donated more than 100 tons of food, medicine, and other essentials since the war began
JERUSALEM — In the past 6 months, supporters of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) have assisted 80,000 displaced Ukrainians and refugees, helped over 3,500 find shelter in Israel, and delivered more than 100 tons of food and essentials to distressed Ukrainian families. Even before the war began, The Fellowship laid the groundwork for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion. Now, looking back on the help provided thus far, donors have made possible emergency grants to help desperate Ukrainians in need. The emergency relief provided by The Fellowship’s supporters over the past six months now stands at more than $20 million.
“Because of the selfless generosity of The Fellowship’s faithful Christian donors, many Ukrainian families have been able to escape a war zone, have had a safe place to lay their head, and have been able to receive the basic essentials that every human being should be able to have,” said Fellowship President Yael Eckstein. “In these 6 months The Fellowship has often provided 24/7 support to do everything in our power to ensure innocent life is protected from danger. The war continues, sadly, and so our work goes on as well. Please don’t forget the people of Ukraine. Even if it’s no longer at the top of each news broadcast, there are still millions in danger. We simply can’t let them slip from our memory.”
The relief provided by The Fellowship throughout the war includes:
- 10 tons of matzah distributed to Ukraine and Moldova for Passover
- More than 3,000 blankets and sleeping bags provided to refugees in need of temporary housing
- 3,619 Ukrainian Jews helped with making aliyah (immigrating to Israel)
- 80,000 displaced persons and refugees given basic essentials such as food, medicine, and temporary housing in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries
- Establishing a joint call center with the Jewish Agency to help refugees with housing and necessary paperwork
- Over 1,600 children and staff evacuated from orphanages in Ukraine
- 50 elderly with severe medical conditions evacuated to Israel on medical rescue flights
- 7 planes carrying 95 tons of humanitarian aid airlifted to refugees and stranded families
To help The Fellowship in their efforts to rescue Ukrainians, http://www.ifcj.ca/ukraine
###
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) was founded in 1983 to promote better understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews and build broad support for Israel. Today it is one of the leading forces helping Israel and Jews in need worldwide and is the largest channel of Christian support for Israel. Founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, The Fellowship raised more than $200 million in 2021, mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $2.6 billion for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul. For more information, visit www.ifcj.ca.
Yael Eckstein is the president and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship). In this role, Eckstein oversees all ministry programs and serves as the organization’s international spokesperson. She can be heard on The Fellowship’s daily radio program airing on 1,300 stations worldwide, and on her podcasts, Nourish Your Biblical Roots and Conversations with Yael. Before her present duties, Yael served as global executive vice president, senior vice president, and director of program development and ministry outreach. Based in Jerusalem, Yael is a published writer, leading international advocate for persecuted religious minorities, and a respected social services professional. As president and CEO of The Fellowship, she also holds the rare distinction of being a woman leading one of America’s largest religious nonprofit organizations.
Website http://www.ifcj.ca | Facebook The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Canada | Instagram | @IFCJCanada