Jewish Relief Agency fights hunger in Greater Philadelphia by delivering nutritious food boxes directly to families in need. Founded in 2000, JRA has grown from serving 19 families to over 3,200 households, powered by 500–1,000 volunteers each month who pack and deliver food throughout the region.
JRA began in September 2000 when co-founder Marc Erlbaum and Rabbi Menachem Schmidt identified 19 Russian-speaking families needing assistance and made their first deliveries via a rented U-Haul truck. Word spread rapidly—within three months, they received nearly 1,000 calls from families seeking help. The organization has since outgrown two warehouses and expanded its volunteer corps from three initial volunteers to hundreds monthly, driven by the belief that people's appetite for giving is incredible when given the chance to act on their generosity.
JRA's staff includes Executive Director Steve Schauder, Chief of Operations Julie Roat, Director of Volunteer Programs Erica Glazer Gershon (MSW), Director of Client Services Jenna Montesano (MSW), and supporting roles including Systems Administrator Melissa Keleti, Volunteer and Communications Coordinator Ethan Binder, Client Services Consultant Marianna Salz, and Warehouse Manager Mark Kogan.
JRA offers monthly food box deliveries to recipients' homes, food packing volunteer shifts, family-friendly JRA Juniors packing events, direct food delivery routes, group volunteer opportunities, a Yellow Capper program, B'nai Mitzvah service projects, caring cards, and seasonal collections and drives including High Holiday and Passover appeals.
JRA holds monthly Sunday food distributions throughout 2026 (June 14, July 12, August 30, October 11, November 15, December 13) with pre-distribution packing on Thursdays and Fridays, JRA Juniors family events, all-ages packing shifts, and multi-day food delivery route pick-ups. Advanced registration is required for all distributions.
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