The United Synagogue

Odessa's Jewish Children Delight In US Gifts

PRESS RELEASE

London,
12th March 2010

ODESSA�S JEWISH CHILDREN DELIGHT IN US GIFTS

For immediate release

London, Friday 12th March 2010

Jewish children in the Ukraine are enjoying gifts of toys and baby clothes as the first shipment of Project Chesed�s hugely successful Chanukah collection has now reached Tikva Children�s Homes in Odessa, which provides vital provisions for abandoned and abused Jewish children in regions of the Former Soviet Union.

With the assistance of World Jewish Relief, eleven large boxes packed with toys and five huge boxes of nappies and wipes are now ready for shipment to Odessa and will be distributed amongst the 400 neglected children which Tikva look after and raise.

34 United Synagogue shuls acted as collection points during the campaign which was launched at the Bat Mitzvah of Noa Sperber from Hampstead Garden Suburb who collected five huge crate loads of nearly new toys from her guests.

Candice Woolfson, the Director of Project Chesed said: �We were overwhelmed by how generously communities gave and the quality and quantity of what was donated. The range of toys was fantastic as there was something for children of all ages � from train sets and sports equipment to arts and crafts sets. As well as the toys, the donations of nappies, wipes and baby clothes mean that Tikva can spend its money on other important areas such as medication.�

The collection was so successful that the quantity the US shuls collected exceeded what Tivka alone can use. Project Chesed has given World Jewish Relief all the extra toys and baby goods for them to send to other disadvantaged Jewish communities that they are working with.

-Ends-

EDITORS� NOTES:

Tikva

Tikva run three children's homes and two university dormitories in the heart of Odessa. They look after and raise approximately 400 children from newborn babies to young people. The 400 children consist of 45 infants and toddlers in the infants' home from ages 0-5; a girl's home cares for 85 children from the ages of 6-16; a boy's home which raises another 105 children from the ages of 6-16 and two university dormitories which house over 150 young people. These 400 children or so rely solely on Tikva for everything. Without the charity the majority of these children would be found in train stations or on the streets.

In addition to the above, Tikva has another 800 children attending its schools - many who come from single-parent impoverished homes and who rely on the charity for everything but shelter. Tikva gives them their education, gives them three meals a day and looks after them until the parents can pick them up which is often not until late at night.

Project Chesed

Project Chesed teaches about the Jewish responsibility we have for our fellow human beings, encourages more acts of charity and kindness and inspires our community to make a difference. Project Chesed is a joint initiative of the United Synagogue Community Division and the London School of Jewish Studies.

For further information, please contact:

Nikki Saunders Work: 020 7284 6943
The PR Office Email: nsaunders@theproffice.com