Repair the World

Help Communities Recover from Irene

Over the weekend, Hurricane Irene made its way up the East Coast of the United States, leaving a wake of destruction in its path. As of the latest report, 43 people were killed, thousands were displaced — many losing their homes and businesses — and 2.85 million are still without power. The sum toll of incurred damage is not yet known as flooding continues in several affected areas.

Repair the World has reached out to communities along the East Coast and in the Caribbean to determine areas of need. Volunteers and contributions will be desperately needed as affected communities work to rebuild following the hurricane’s wreckage. Please consider lending your support.

Our hearts and prayers go out to those who were affected by the hurricane and we will continue to monitor the situation. Follow Repair on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest information.

Donate

• [Update 9/6/11] The Jewish community of Woodstock, VT, was hard-hit by Hurricane Irene. Congregation Shir Shalom is requesting shipments of non-perishable food items that can be distributed to their congregants.

  Mail to:
  Congregation Shir Shalom
  P.O. Box 526
  Woodstock, VT 05091

• The homes, farms and businesses of nearly a dozen members of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community have been damaged or destroyed by flooding. The local synagogue is collecting donations to help their congregants with recovery efforts.

  Donate online or mail a check to:

  BAJC
  Attn: Families in Need Fund
  PO Box 2353
  Brattleboro, VT 05303

• B’nai B’rith International has setup a hurricane relief fund to aid those along the coast affected by the storm.

  Donate online or mail a check to:

  B’nai B’rith International Disaster Relief Fund
  Attn: Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief Fund
  2020 K Street NW, 7th Floor
  Washington, DC 20006

• Catskill Mountain Relief
  is collecting bottled water, batteries, non-perishable food, and other emergency supplies on behalf of the Catskill communities devastated by hurricane-related flooding. Click here to find out how and where you can donate.

• The Union for Reform Judaism has also opened a hurricane relief fund to assist with recovery.

  Donate online or mail a check to:

  Hurricane Relief Fund
  Union for Reform Judaism
  633 Third Ave.
  New York, NY 10017

• As always, you can also give to the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief efforts in your community and around the country. 

  Donate online or mail a check to:

  Disaster Relief
  American Red Cross
  PO Box 4002018
  Des Moines, IA 50340-2018

Volunteer

• Nechama Jewish Response to Disaster and Jewish Disaster Response Corps are mobilizing in Bergen County, NJ, to help clean out homes flooded by the storm. Contact Amy Cytron at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering, or Rabbi Etan Katz at [email protected] to help coordinate volunteers. You can also help by providing meals. Contact Rabbi Katz for more details. 

• Volunteers and in-kind contributions are needed on the ground throughout Vermont. If you are in the region and able to assist, click here for a list of opportunities and needs.

• New York Cares is coordinating cleanup efforts around the New York City area. For a list of opportunities, click here.

• If you are interested in volunteering elsewhere to assist in recovery efforts, visit our partner HandsOn Network’s Hurricane Irene Recovery Center to find a local Volunteer Center with which to register your interest.

Repair will continue to provide updates as needs for volunteers and contributions arise. Please stay in touch. If you have questions on how to get involved with Repair, email [email protected].