Religious charities offer help

Posted by shlomo on August 29th, 2022

Federal, state, and local agencies provide most emergency assistance, but faith-based groups play an indispensable role in emergency relief across the United States. In the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, numerous Jewish, Christian and Muslim non-profits are providing essential services and supplies to affected families, regardless of their religion.

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President Trump recently praised US nonprofits for helping Americans in crisis.

“Organizations like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and faith-based organizations on the ground are actively helping and doing a fantastic job,” he said. “I want to recognize the millions of citizens across the country who are contributing in every way possible — with their time, their resources and their prayers.”

Minnesota-based Nechama – Jewish Response to Disasters is one such organization. Executive Director David Kaplan said Nechama (the group's name in Hebrew means "comfort") hopes to raise about 0,000 for victims of Hurricane Harvey * and a similar amount to help survivors of Hurricane Irma.

“Our mission is rooted in the Jewish value of tikkun olam , repairing the world through acts of kindness,” said Kaplan. “We focus more on low-income communities and families with or without insurance.”

Nechama partners with other faith groups — including International Orthodox Christian Charities, Islamic Circle of North America, Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities USA (respectively: International Orthodox Christian Charities, Islamic Circle of North America, Social Services Lutherans and US Catholic Charities).

For the first phase of reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Harvey, Islamic Relief USA has already spent ,000 on debit cards for Texans in need. Its volunteers in Florida are arranging for mosques in Tampa Bay and Orlando to serve as emergency shelters for those displaced by Irma.

Islamic Relief USA remains on site for a longer period of time. It is working with United Methodists in North Carolina to rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, said Minhaj Hassan, a spokesperson for the group.

International Orthodox Christian Charities is analyzing the needs in Florida and will send volunteers from its “Frontliner” program, or frontline volunteers, to the location. Volunteers are chaplains, counselors, social workers and medical staff specially trained to provide emotional and spiritual care to disaster survivors.

Other groups * involved in post-hurricane relief efforts include the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and local branches of the national organization Catholic Charities USA. click here for more information

Catholic Charities USA raised million for the purpose of rebuilding hurricane-hit areas in Texas and Florida. The group has provided food, shelter and more to help thousands of families affected by Hurricane Harvey, said Cynthia Colbert, president of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

“Our team has been working virtually 24 hours a day to help people recover from the disaster,” she said. The organization's Florida branches are doing the same.

Joel Schatz of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago says his agency's emergency fund for the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey has raised more than 1,000 and has expanded the fund to include emergency efforts related to Irma.