The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines is at the heart of the Greater Des Moines community, which includes Ames, Marshalltown, and other cities and towns in Central Iowa. The diverse efforts of individual organizations are coordinated, central fundraising is budgeted and allocated to fund community needs such as; senior assistance and support through Jewish Family Services, community supplementary education for children pre-Kindergarten through 10th grade at the Jewish Federation Community School, Jewish Community Relations Committee to monitor American-Israeli relations, interfaith relations, and antisemitism in our community, offer Engman Camp Shalom, missions to Israel, community newspaper (Des Moines Jewish Press), support for the Iowa Jewish Historical Society and and IJSLC, and Tzedakah. Community planning and community relations activities are administered through the Federation in cooperation with community synagogues. The Federation serves as an effective voice representing Jewish interests from a position of combined strength. The Federation is a world of action and swift response, of patient planning and programming, of legal and educational efforts-all proven and innovative means to deepen our understanding and protect our rights within Central Iowa.