www.jewishlongmont.com | Blogs | Relief Updates

Post Shabbat Update

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 6:59:00 PM

After a rejuvenating and enthusiastic start to Sukkot followed by Shabbat, Chabad is once again gearing up to assist flood victims. Sunday, numerous volunteers will be sent out into the field to assist with many tasks. Some will be wading in the murky waters of submerged basements while others will help people reorganize their lives, shift furniture around to accommodate items relocated from basements, or helping senior citizens put their lives back into order after needing to relocate.

As the days pass, we continue to hear more and more stories or destruction and personal challenges caused by the flood. Students who live in the foothills have been forced to relocate because there are no open roads. Many are unable to access their belongings. At Chabad at CU we are hosting students until they’re able to find a long-term place to stay. In addition, Chabad of Longmont sustained a tremendous amount of damage. The shul and all classes have relocated to Rabbi and Mrs. Borenstein’s house.

Our phone has been ringing steadily and our inbox has been filled with requests for assistance. We are in desperate need of dehumidifiers. The local stores here are out of them. If you live near or around Denver and are able to give us a dehumidifier, we would deeply appreciate it. In addition, we have had many requests for financial assistance. Many people need money for temporary housing and to begin rebuilding their lives. People should contact one of the rabbis for confidential assistance. Gift cards for Lowes, Home Depot, or local supermarkets can be purchased and emailed to us online.

If you know of apartments or houses available for rent please email usflood@jewishcu.com. Also, if you can host students who have to relocate for a few weeks please let us know. It will only be helpful if you are in Boulder.

In addition, Achiezer (http://achiezer.org) has reached out to us and will be helping out. In the next few days, we will be posting information on FEMA and mold and restoration help. There will also be links on where to receive emotional support.

As we work to rebuild, we also have come together as a community to celebrate. Sukkot Across America gave a generous donation for a community-wide sukkah event. It’s being supported by numerous Jewish organizations throughout the area. Students will be assisting in the construction of a larger sukkah so that they’re able to host everyone. The event is scheduled for Sunday 6:00pm andclick here for more information.

With gratitude to the Jewish community near and far.

Chag Sameach & Thank You!

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 7:04:00 PM

It's been so crazy busy that we've barely had a moment to update you on the non-stop activity that's been going on throughout Boulder, Longmont, and the surrounding areas. Without a doubt, there are not enough words to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of the flood recovery process. The volunteers, the donors, the letters and phone calls of support have been so overwhelmingly kind and thoughtful that we are not only thankful, but are inspired. Over 1000 volunteers have helped out at 130 plus homes since the call to action. We have witnessed destruction and the power of community to overcome adversity.

The flood poured down on us near the beginning of the High Holiday season. We maximized every spare moment between the holidays. During our celebration of Sukkot, we've reached out to hundreds of Jews, enjoying meals together in the sukkah, shaking the lulav and etrog, and connecting with as many as possible with our newest and greatest, the pedi-sukkah! With Shemini Atzeres beginning tonight followed by Simchas Torah, we expect to serve over 500 holiday meals. Imagine, that in and of itself is quite a feat, but as you know cooking meals has only been one task we've conquered in the last few days. It gives us immense joy to know that we've come together as one huge community, one huge family to help each other. So much so, that we could write a book.

With everything being so hectic, it has been with heavy hearts that we haven't been able to return every phone call, answer every email, or respond with our personal thanks for the generous donations people have made. Since our offices are still underwater, our computer access has been very limited. Starting after Shabbos, it is our goal to reach out to everyone who has left messages, written to us, and offered and given support. It hasn't gone unnoticed and we want everyone to know that your partnership has not only transformed us physically, but has touched us down to the very core of our souls. This fuels us with unwavering determination to continue to serve. We will not rest until everyone who needs help, receives it.

The next few weeks and months will bring new challenges. Flood victims will not only need financial support, but help reconstructing their lives both physically and spiritually. We will continue to provide as many services as possible to assist.

As the holiday of Simchas Torah approaches and we prepare to celebrate and dance with the Torahs, we will be thinking of all of you with a full heart. Thank you.

Chag sameach and may this New Year bring everyone good health, happiness, and peace.

Update

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 7:02:00 PM

With our Chabad House in need of major repair, we stayed up until 3:30 A.M. on Saturday Nigh to rearrange our home in order to accommodate our thirty-five Hebrew School students on Sunday morning. This involved moving furniture, finding new tables and chairs , and getting them set up.

Our scheduled “Pizza Party in the Sukkah” was moved to our driveway, where we transformed and linked our personal sukkah and the Chabad House sukkah to create one giant sukkah to hold 100 people who attended the wonderful celebration.

Soon after, I met with several people from the community to show them how to use two different sump pumps in order to drain the floodwaters from their homes. I never thought I’d become a maven of sump pumps, fittings, and tubes, but as a rabbi, we must always be prepared to assist in every way we can.

On a personal level, it turned that our car sustained extensive electrical damage and we were told it would need rewiring. After replacing a dead battery, the car was running well enough to allow us to continue on our way so that we could assist others.

We are deeply grateful to the people all around the world who have given financial support as well as our local community for reaching out to us and volunteering to help with the extensive and often difficult process of flood cleanup. Though everyone deserves our gratitude, I’d like to extend a special shout-out to the volunteers from the Mormon Church and the Vail Resort for all their assistance to the people of Longmont.

There is still a great deal left to do. Thank you all for making this difficult time easier to bear.

Some Pictures from Longmont

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 6:57:00 PM

Out of the Storm, a community rises up together and stronger!

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 6:55:00 PM

Message from Rabbi Yaakov Borenstein, Director of Chabad of Longmont

It had been a long, hot and dry summer, so when the rain first began last week, many in Colorado rejoiced. However, when the torrential rains turned into tragic floods, wiping away homes and devastating so many families and businesses, the Jewish community responded. Led by the Colorado Chabad community, the Jewish Flood Relief provides volunteer and free flood supplies to all of Boulder County, regardless of faith, economics, or background who are in need.

With more than 100 volunteers ready to help clean, pump water, pull carpets and provide necessary physical support, the Jewish Flood Relief, generously supported by Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, is reaching homes from Boulder to Longmont with a deep spirit of Tikkun Olam. From fans, dehumidifiers, generators, and pumps, JFR is ready to help!