Hurricane Sandy Relief - Let’s be the neighbors we’d have needed, if we hadn’t been so lucky.

Supply Drive through Valley Shore Clergy Association

Houses of worship in our Valley-Shore region are collecting the following items to be turned over to the Red Cross.

Collection starts this Monday, November 12^th, and runs through Monday November 19^th.  You can drop off your goods at Essex Congregational Church or at St. John’s Episcopal Church of Essex.

Cleaning and Sanitary Supplies	Clothing	Toiletries	Baby/Infant Supplies	Other
Sanitizers	Jackets/coats	Shampoo	Diapers	Blankets
Sponges (new)	Sweaters/Sweatshirts	Soap	Wipes	Towels (in good shape)
Mops	Pants	Toothpaste	Formula	Batteries (all sizes)
Trash bags	Underwear (new)	Toothbrushes		Water
Rubber gloves	Hats/gloves
	Socks

Restock the Food Pantry and the Diaper Bank of Jewish Family Service of New Haven

Due to the increased need following Hurricane Sandy, the shelves of the JFS Food Pantry in New Haven are empty, and there is an acute need for baby diapers.

You can help in one of two ways:

·      If you it is convenient for you to bring food and diaper donations to the JCC in Woodbridge (360 Amity Road  Woodbridge, CT 06525 (203) 387-2522) At the JCC there is a collection area to drop off non- perishable items such as; soups, canned goods, tuna, vegetables, instant oatmeal, juices--juice boxes, cans, cold cereal, rice, pasta, and diapers. All items will be dispersed to JFS Food Pantry and The Diaper Bank.

OR

·      Make a financial contribution by writing a check to

Jewish Family Services (put Food Pantry in the memo line)

1440 Whalley Avenue,  New Haven, CT 06515

Donate to the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Hurricane Relief Fund at www.urj.org/Sandy

The URJ’s Hurricane Relief Fund is providing: 

• Direct funding to congregants who are suffering short or long-term loss of food, shelter or clothing
• Direct funding to general and Jewish relief agencies in coordination with the Jewish Federations, NECHAMA – the Jewish Response to Disaster and others
• Direct funding to Reform congregations damaged by the storm to help them resume operations as quickly as possible

Since the fund was established Tuesday, October 30, the URJ has collected nearly $200,000 for Hurricane Relief from more than 1,600 donors. 

Donors may choose to give to a general relief fund or to a fund allocated specifically to West End Temple in Neponsit, Queens. (The URJ will be collecting funds on behalf of West End Temple until they have electricity and their online system is functional.) Funds may also be designated for Scholarships for Youth Impacted by Hurricane Sandy, which will remove some of the financial barriers that might keep displaced teens from attending NFTY or other Reform Movement events with their peers when they need them most.

The first distribution of general relief funds of $7,500 was sent yesterday to North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, Long Island, to provide three meals a day to displaced families.

If you wish to mail in your donation, please indicate the fund on your check and send to: 

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

Volunteer in the NY or NJ Region through URJ partner NECHAMA – the Jewish Response to Disaster.

Sign up at http://rac.org/advocacy/specialresources/sandy/

The URJ is partnering with NECHAMA – the Jewish Response to Disaster to galvanize volunteers for on-the-ground clean-up and rebuilding efforts in affected areas of Northern New Jersey. The URJ is also working with JVOAD - Jewish Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters to maximize resources and ensure that efforts are not being duplicated. 

For more information, go to www.urj.org/Sandy