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Hurricane Sandy & JCCs Storify

Below is a collection of stories from various JCCs that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. These are in chronological order, with the most recent story at the top. The storify will continue to be updated as more news is shared across social networks about the effects of Hurricane Sandy. View the stories on Storify

Hurricane Sandy & the JCCs

A look at stories from JCCs & YM-YWHA’s across the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Storified by JCC Association · Wed, Nov 14 2012 13:47:28

Huffingtonpost
NY’s Waterfront Communities After Hurricane Sandy Still Need Help — Here’s HowSometimes you’re the giver, sometimes you’re the taker. Mother Nature’s smack downs do not discriminate between the filthy rich and dirt …
Hurricane Sandy changed many plans for the New York City Marathon but the gravity of the storm’s impact on New Yorkers shifted the priority focus of 92Y May Center Fitness Director, Leslie Meyers,…92y
Island Park perseveres amid hardship of SandyTraffic alerts4 18 m ago In Bethpage accident on Seaford-Oyster Bay Expwy/Rt-135 SB at Plainview Rd/Broadway/X9. Stop and go traffic from…

92Y Tribeca Facebook

Reminder, we can still use a little help! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/92YTribeca?ref=stream" class="">92YTribeca</a>, in cooperation with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanCouncilOnJewishPoverty" class="">Met Council</a>, is collecting goods for a group of 150 senior men and women in Brooklyn who have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy. They are in need of coats, gloves, s…carves, flashlights, and batteries. Please stop on by (200 Hudson at Canal St) and help those in need…we have a collection bin near our front entrance. Thank you and please share this post!See More</a>
JCC donor drive: We are collecting new, unused school supplies for students at PS 225 in Brighton Beach who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Donations of new school supplies will be accepted Tuesday the 13th through Thursday the 15th in the JCC lobby.<br> <br> New school supplies needed at PS 225 include:<br> -notebooks<br> -looseleaf paper<br> -boxes of pencils and pens<br> -pencil cases<br> -erasers<br> -glue sticks
HURRICANE SANDY ASSISTANCE CENTER OPENS AT THE J! <br> In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Marks JCH has created the Hurricane Sandy Assistance Center to provide aid to those affected by the disaster. This work is done in collaboration with UJA-Federation of New York network agencies, other non-profit organizations, and government programs. <br> <br> If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the Marks JCH Hurricane Sandy Resource Line at: (718) 943-6392 or email us at: hurricanerelief@jchb.org or come in to the J during business hours. Assistance is available to adults, families, business owners, and self-employed individuals.Marks JCH

The Shorefront Y is serving as a disaster relief center for all of those affected in the area.

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COAT COLLECTIONS – New or gently used coats <br> Where: Along the Veteran Days Parade Route<br> When: November 11 <br> <br> Where: NYPD Precincts and library branches in the New York <br> Punlic Library, Queens Library & Brooklyn Library systems. <br> When: Now through December 31st<br> <br> Additional drop-off locations will be at Penn Stations and Grand Central Station starting November 15th.

From the Marks JCH

November 13, 2012
Stas came in to the J last Friday morning desperate for help. A student in one of our business development classes, he is already a client of our agency. Stas owned a small trucking business and lost both of his trucks to the floodwaters in Sheepshead Bay. He and his wife and their 10mo child sought refuge at a friend’s apartment near the J. Stas’s wife is pregnant with their second child.

The friend’s apartment building has roaches, and they are concerned about the impact of the chemical extermination on the health of their baby and Stas’s pregnant wife. Stas is desperate to get his family into a new apartment of their own and to start over. Starting over is something he knows all too well… Stas and his family emigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union in the early 90s, and after an unsuccessful absorption and decent luck playing the green card lottery, Stas decided to relocate to NYC a few years ago.

With only $1,000 in his savings account, he couldn’t afford the first, last and security deposit required to get a new apartment this week. His family in Israel, poor immigrants themselves, scraped together another $1,000 to wire to him, and he has tried to respond to the call we shared with him for emergency Con Ed work, but can’t get through. We managed to get him a donated crib and some formula and diapers for the baby, helped him file his FEMA application and gave him emergency cash assistance to help him as he works around the clock to get his family in a better place.

Stas is a good example of the émigrés we serve who are just barely making ends meet. Many are woefully underinsured, if they even have insurance for their rented apartments. Those who have subleases or no paper leases are in even worse shape than Stas. The shelter system is not a safe option for this type of family.

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts – Brooklyn – Jewish Community Center of BensonhurstSince Hurricane Sandy hit the shores of New York, the Marks JCH has mobilized to help meet the needs of our community in this time of cri…
THE FRIEDBERG JCC COMFORTING OUR COMMUNITY Volunteer (Donate and Sort Supplies)<br> <br> Saturday, November 10th, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – <br> Donate & Sorting<br> <br> Sunday, November 11th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Distribution<br> <br> Drop Off Location: <br> Friedberg Jewish Community Center, 15 Neil Court, Oceanside<br>… <br> On Saturday, help those impacted by Hurricane Sandy by donating and sorting the following items: Batteries, AA, C, D, baby food, diapers, formula, pet food, personal hygiene items, hats, and gloves. Please make sure these items are new. Clothing is not needed.<br> <br> On Sunday, volunteers are needed to fill a bus leaving from the JCC with all the items to knock on doors distributing the collected items. Information on how to access assistance will also be provided. Kosher food will be distributed.
TJC’s Jewish News Week in Review: November 9, 2012thejewishchanneltjc
Please consider donating blood this weekend at The JCC! The blood mobile will be on 76th Street from 12:30pm-5:00pm on Sunday.
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy donors are urged to contribute to http://JFeds.org/SandyRelief. Or, text RELIEF to 51818 on a mobile device.SIJCC
We just got a huge pile of sweatpants from SoulCycle that we’re sending right over to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/friedbergjcc" class="">Friedberg JCC</a> in Oceanside. They need them. Thanks, SoulCycle!
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/92YTribeca" class="">92YTribeca</a>, in cooperation with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanCouncilOnJewishPoverty" class="">Met Council</a>, is collecting goods for a group of 150 senior men and women in Brooklyn who have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy. They are in need of coats, gloves, scarves, flashlights, and batteries. Please stop on by and help those in need…we have a collection bin near our front entrance. Thank you!
We are collecting for storm victims… <br> NOTE: Most needed items now are towels, medicine (pain relievers — must be sealed), diapers, wipes, toiletries (toothpaste, etc.), and pet food! No one is thinking about pet needs, but they are urgent as well. No more coats or clothing, please.<br> <br> Come drop off your donations anytime during our regular business hours (Sunday until 9:00pm; Monday-Thursday, 5:30am-10:00pm; Friday, 5:30am-3:30pm) and we will be sure they get to those in need. Thank you so much!
November 6 2012 UPDATE <br> The JCC’s main building in Oceanside remains closed without power and is undergoing repairs for damage caused by Tropical Storm. <br> <br> Power is anticipated to be restored at Merrick Jewish Center sometime tomorrow, barring any further delays by LIPA. Once power is restored and the heating system tested, we anticipate our early childhood services at Merrick to resume by week’s… end. Please continue to monitor this site for further updates.<br> <br> Programs for 3 and 4 year olds attending either our Oceanside or Long Beach preschools will resume Wednesday morning at 9 am at Congregation B’nai Shalom, 100 Hempstead Avenue in Rockville Centre.<br> <br> Resumption of infant/toddler day care will be announced tomorrow, following approval for alternate facilities by our licensing bodies.<br> <br> Senior Adult programs will also be resuming off-site. Schedules and locations are anticipated to be announced tomorrow afternoon.<br> <br> All after-school in-school programs in Merrick, Bellmore, Baldwin and Island Park will resume as schools reopen. <br> <br> After-school services for children in the Oceanside School District will resume next week in conjunction with the district’s reopening of schools. Programs may be held at alternate sites to be announced later this week.<br> <br> Reciprocal arrangements for health and fitness usage, including swim, are now in place with both the Mid Island Y JCC in Plainview and the Suffolk Y JCC in Commack. Please have your Friedberg JCC membership card with you when you arrive at those facilities.<br> <br> Power has been partially restored at our Long Beach Building, but programming is not yet able to resume there until extensive safety checks have been instituted. We hope to resume some basic level of programming at the site just as soon as we receive the appropriate clearances.<br> <br> Our email system and phone lines remain off-line; we are hoping for full restoration by Thursday. We know this lack of communication has been frustrating for some of our families, as it has been for us. The Long Beach, Oceanside and South Merrick communities all sufferred extensive damage, leaving not just our agencies, but also many of our families, without power, internet, phone and in many cases, even cell service. We deeply regret the frustration caused by the inability to communicate to everyone and assure you that we continue to make every effort to restore our services, buildings and communications. Please continue to watch this site and please communicate with us at our temporary mailbox – Friebergjcc@aol.com – until our full capacity is restored. <br> <br> Stay safe everyone.
Shababa angels on their way to Rockaways!
Sara Sideman, from the JCC, is coordinating home hospitality for anyone who does not have power or who is unable to stay in their home. If you need a place to stay, or if you would be willing to host members of our community in your home, please contact Sara at 201.408.1469 or ssideman@jccotp.org. For those of you who have damage to your house, the Jewish disaster relief organization, Nechama, is… currently being housed at the JCC and they are ready to assist. Please call 201.399.2012 if you need assistance with tree work, flooded structures or debris removal. <br> If you would like to donate or volunteer to help those affected by the storm please go to <a href="http://www.nechama.org/" class="">www.nechama.org</a>. If you do not have internet access, you can call 763.732.0610.
JCC’s Manhattan Hurricane Sandy assistance and Gail Brewer Message…..goodnewsbroadcast
Hurricane Sandy update We are relieved to finally have power back so we can reach out to all of you. We have reopened and are ready to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. <br> Everyone in the community is welcome to use our facilities for a hot shower, to recharge electronics, use a computer, or just have a warm place to hang out – please spread the word to your friends in need regardless of whether they are JCC members. <br> Let us be your home away from home.
There is still plenty of food. Please come on over. Thank you to everyone who donated food and volunteered to prep and serve.
All those who are still without power are welcome to come to the JCC to get warm, take a hot shower, charge your phones, or just relax.JCC of Stamford
Dear Shababians, THANK YOU!!!!!! We just got back from the Lower East Side. We gave away all the delicious home baked cookies, brownies and candies you brought to Shababa this morning. We also gave away bottles of water, canned soup, apples… and milk to our fellow New Yorkers in that area. They were so grateful. They thanked us for being there and for bringing them food and water! Friends…the situation is so sad. ANY FOOD OR WATER that you can bring to the people on the streets will be so appreciated. ANYTHING!!!<br> Once again…TODAH, GRACIAS, THANK YOU! Shabbat salom! See you tomorrow at 10:3am.See More</a>
Here are a few more resources for anyone who may need them. <br> <a href="http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2012/11/more_shelters_warming_charging.html" class="">http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2012/11/more_shelters_warming_charging.html</a><br> <br> <a href="http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2012/11/somerset_county_thursday_whats.html" class="">http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2012/11/somerset_county_thursday_whats.html</a>
Jcca

From the Marks JCH

November 2, 2012
After making the second round of hundreds of phone calls to our long list of homebound seniors, we discovered that one of our long time members, Lily S., who finally answered her phone, was in a terrible situation.  She lives on the tenth floor and was already 72 hours without heat, food and electricity.

I decided to join one of our caseworkers, Zina Kagonovich, on a home visit to bring Lily some help and reassurance. As we entered the building, the only light in the lobby was daylight from outside. We found the main floor all emptied out and saw that the senior center which usually operates on the main floor is no longer there, as their offices flooded and they had to leave. A man in uniform told us that tomorrow (which is today) the National Guard will come and evacuate the seniors.  A total stranger – a Russian speaking senior gentleman was standing there, and when he heard the word evacuation he started shouting in Russian “we will never leave, we will stay”. He said “we will stay because we need to protect our property, you should see what’s happening here at night, there are people crushing cars with baseball bats.”. Apparently vandalism has started in the neighborhood and anger is growing among the residents who feel abandoned.

Lily is in her 70’s, had just survived cancer and is homebound. We brought her food and because she has no electricity whatsoever, we put a few perishables out on the balcony. Today in the morning, Zina called her to check on her and sensed some anxiety – what will happen when the National Guard will take over – where and how long will she be away?

The stories just go on and on.

Mayor’s office sending FREE food trucks to of Staten Island. Distribution targeted for 1pm 2 locations: parking at the corner of Mill…SIJCC
92Y: update for Wednesday, Oct 31With the continuing challenges caused by Sandy and in line with the caution encouraged by the Mayor, we will be cancelling a number of events and running a limited schedule on Wednesday. However we urge all patrons who cannot get to 92Y safely NOT to make the journey.
Our Snow Insurance Program will be running today for kids who don’t have school. Learn more at the Member Services Center, 860-236-4571.Mandell JCC
Your guide to tracking Hurricane Sandy on Twitter http://huff.to/WPeL8PHuffington Post
PROGRAM UPDATE: For the safety of our community and in line with the caution encouraged by the Governor and Mayor, 92Y Uptown and 92YTribeca programs, classes and events are cancelled from 5PM Sunday and all Monday.
http://www.mandelljcc.org, or 860-236-4571 for updates and closings. We will continue to keep you posted. Thank you and be careful!Mandell JCC

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