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Connect with organizers and volunteers and learn where your help is needed by joining the COJECO Volunteer Group.

Thank you

Since Hurricane Sandy hit East Coast shores, each day in the Russian Jewish community has been filled with moments of horror, times of unadulterated joy, hard lessons learned, and bonding experiences that have propelled us into a new kind of cohesive, collaborative body – a true community. In the first two days after the super storm hit, we contacted each of our 33 member organizations, whose constituents span the full spectrum of Russian Jewish community – from WWII veterans and Holocaust Survivors to young professionals and families. From these conversations, we quickly understood that our most fragile community members, senior citizens, many of whom live in high-rise buildings in the coastal areas of south Brooklyn and Queens, were in dire need of help. Without electricity, running water, heat, or working elevators, these people who have lived through wars, persecution, and immigration, were now helpless. In the absence of information or external assistance, we turned to our most valuable resource – members of our community.

We put out a call to volunteers, urging people to bring water, nonperishable food, blankets, and flashlights, and started canvassing building to building, door to door. As word spread, more and more organizations joined the call – UJA-Federation of NY, Shorefront Y, Kings Bay Y, Marks JCH, RAJE, RJeneration, Congregation Beth Elohim – to name just a few of the first responders. Information started flowing in, people calling, emailing, and messaging with addresses and individuals that needed help. We set up an open Google Doc, a live spreadsheet where anyone could add information or find information, about those in need. The response was overwhelming.

Data flowed in, volunteers went out to help, en mass. We have since taken the spreadsheet offline due to concern for resident safety, but we could never have compiled our data bank without everyone’s input. In the first two weeks, we had been supporting close to 300 high-rise buildings that were without power in Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, and Far Rockaway. Volunteer doctors made their way out, and COJECO took care of resident prescriptions at nearby pharmacies. Meanwhile, we received calls from concerned relatives from around the world, and checked on loved ones on their behalf. Russian-speaking volunteers accompanied local officials as translators and also connected residents with their families by making interstate and international phone calls. The total number of individuals that have been helped is impossible to quantify accurately at this point, but we know that the figure is in the many thousands. Close to 1,000 volunteers have climbed 20-story building staircases to bring food, water, and supplies to those trapped. The magnitude of good will, enthusiasm, sense of urgency, donations, and community effort has been simply too powerful to properly express with words.

THANK YOU. Yes, you. You know who you are. You, who were there, carrying heavy supplies, walking through dark hallways, and talking to people from every walk of life. You, who were on the phone with us, with government officials, with building managers. Thank you for your empathy, compassion, strength, and resilience. Thank you for being a part of our community. The power has finally been returned to many buildings, but some still remain without heat or elevators. Help is still needed. Help will continue to be needed for a long time to come, even after the all the utilities are working. We know that these last two weeks were not an anomaly, but integral in your character as community members who are committed to ensuring that every person, young or old, wealthy or poor, Russian-speaking or not, is cared for. Thank you. You are amazing.

Resources

See the list of shelters>>

Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)

Brooklyn has been declared eligible for Individual Assistance up to $31,400, this is direct aid for losses caused by the Hurricane that are not covered by insurance. FEMA has a number of assistance programs that you can speak to them about, including rental payments for temporary housing if your house is unlivable, as well as grants for home repairs and repla