Jewish Federation of St. Louis has set up the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Relief Fund to help victims of super Typhoon Haiyan, which has wrought widespread destruction in the Philippines. St. Louisans can donate to the fund online at JFedSTL.org/TyphoonRelief.

One hundred percent of donations will support relief efforts by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which is consulting with local officials, the Filipino Jewish community, and global partners to assess and address the evolving situation on the ground in the Philippines.

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, has wrought widespread destruction. More than 10,000 people are feared dead, with reports of ocean surges as high as trees. The central city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte is among the worst hit on the Pacific nation.

“We send our thoughts and prayers to the Filipino people devastated by this crisis,” said Andrew Rehfeld, president and CEO. “The mission of Jewish Federation of St. Louis is to support the needs of the Jewish community here in St. Louis and wherever Jews are in need. Our annual campaign provides needed services in a planned and deliberative way, but emergent crises like this one are hard to plan adequately for and require additional support. This is one more way Jewish Federation’s services extend to all those in need, publicity expressing our Jewish values of service to our neighbors.”