The St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center is putting out the word that new funds are available for those who survived or fled the Holocaust.  The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) (www.claimscon.org) announced late last year that it had negotiated an agreement with the German government approximately $145 million in 2011 for vital homecare services for Jewish Holocaust victims living around the world. The Claims Conference will allocate the German government money to 101 agencies in 32 countries that provide in-home nursing and vital help with basic activities of daily living and other services that greatly ease the lives of elderly Holocaust victims and enable them to remain living in their own homes.

Other funds are also available to help those who survived or fled the Holocaust.  But, in many cases, Holocaust victims and survivors do not come forward. According to Holocaust Museum and Learning Center Director Jean Cavender, “We know we have people who live in the St. Louis region who fit the criteria and are in need of this type of assistance.”  

For 2011, the Claims Conference is allocating approximately $270 million for services to Nazi victims in 46 countries. Services from other sources of allocations include hunger relief, medical aid, winter assistance, transportation, help in applying for government benefits and socialization opportunities to relieve loneliness.

To access these funds, contact Holocaust Museum and Learning Center Executive Director Jean Cavender at 314-442-3715 or e-mail [email protected]. All information will be kept strictly confidential.