If at first you don’t succeed…

May 17th, 2012

NECHAMA takes action to correct mailing mistake

Did you try to mail us a donation recently, only to have it returned by the postal service?

Recently the company that prints and sends our mail campaigns misprinted our address on the enclosed donation envelopes. As a result many spring appeal donations were returned to sender and never received by NECHAMA.

The printing company has corrected the address mistake and is resending the spring appeal mailing at their expense.

We apologize for the confusion this created. We truly appreciate your generosity and ask that you please resend your donation using the envelope enclosed in the new mailing or by sending your gift to:

NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster

7260 Washington Ave S.

Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Our operations are dependent upon your financial support. As always you can also donate to us via the web at:

www.NECHAMA.org/donate

Please contact us if you have any questions or need assistance. Thank you for your contribution.

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With Your Help, We’ll Be Ready

April 24th, 2012

NECHAMA Launches 2012 Spring Appeal

Usually at this time of year we launch our Spring fundraising appeal asking you to help us prepare in advance of the start of disaster season. Well, this year isn’t typical and tornado season has already begun in a big way.

On Saturday, April 14th, we saw over 120 reported tornadoes touch down throughout the Midwest region with damage spreading across three states. NECHAMA responded by directly assisting the community of Thurman, Iowa, where over 75% of the homes suffered major damage.

It was not so long ago that we were hearing those same mighty roars on February 28th and March 2nd, when communities across multiple states were devastated as well. At that time, NECHAMA deployed and helped hundreds of people along the way.

From this recent deployment one story stands out: local community members Sandra Spencer-Sharp and her son Spencer Keck were volunteering with us in West Liberty KY. They joined us for two days helping clear trees and debris before it came out in conversation that they too needed help. Sandra’s home, where she had lived with her daughter and two young grandchildren, was severely damaged.

She was living in a shelter at night, applying for various assistance programs, because she had no insurance. All the while, she was volunteering during the day to serve her neighbors as well.

Sandra and Spencer felt the need to pay it forward for the help they had received thus far and it didn’t take long for us at NECHAMA to figure out where we needed to go next.

Please visit www.NECHAMA.org/donate or watch the video above to see and hear first hand accounts of their story.

All signs point to this being another busy year. The warmer than usual winter experienced by much of the country has many experts concerned about the impact on weather patterns and the intensity of future storms. 2010 and 2011 saw not only a record-breaking number of disasters, but a corresponding record for the largest number of disaster deployment days in NECHAMA’s history.

We still haven’t figured out how to control the storms but with your help we will be ready to respond and be there for those that need us in 2012 and beyond.

Please donate to ensure our ability to lend a helping hand to those who have lost everything.

Donate today on line at: www.NECHAMA.org/donate

Your help brings NECHAMA (“comfort”) to disaster survivors.

Thanks,

Team NECHAMA

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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity

April 20th, 2012

Join us for an Evening Volunteer Opportunity next Wednesday in our Warehouse!

By next Wednesday our team in North Dakota assisting homeowners with flood cleanup will have returned and our team that helped Thurman, Iowa recover from a recent tornado just arrived back in Eden Prairie.

If you are willing, able, and interested we could use some help Wednesday scrubbing the tools, vehicles and restocking the response trailers so they are ready to respond the next time disaster strikes.

All are welcome to volunteer and no prior experience is necessary.

Where: The NECHAMA Office & Warehouse, 7260 Washington Ave South, Eden Prairie, MN
When: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Between the hours of 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m. or any portion you are able to volunteer.
What: Work to be performed: Cleaning equipment and vehicles, restocking, and general tool maintenance.

Please wear clothing that can get dirty.

Pizza and pop will be provided.

Please RSVP via email to : info@NECHAMA.org or via Facebook Here:

Hope you can join us!

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Work Continues in North Dakota

April 18th, 2012

NECHAMA Operations Manager Dan H and Board President Gene B are working hard with a team of volunteers in North Dakota. They are planning to continue the flood cleanup work through Saturday the 21st. If you are interested in joining them in Flora, ND please contact us at info@NECHAMA.org.

Iowa Update:

We have concluded our cleanup effort in Thurman, Iowa. The city was severely impacted by a tornado this past weekend. We pitched in by helping fell, buck, and clear trees along side community members. Before leaving the Mayor of Thurman thanked NECHAMA team members for the support in their time of need.

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NECHAMA Active on Two Fronts

April 17th, 2012

It’s National Volunteer Week and NECHAMA is Getting Dirty Doing Good!

We have a team aiding the tornado cleanup effort in Thurman, IA.

Simultaneously another NECHAMA team is in Harvey, ND working with our partners from Lutheran Disaster Response assisting a homeowner’s cleanup after flooding.

Keep track of the action on our Facebook page… and while you are there “Like” us!

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Severe Weather

April 14th, 2012

UPDATE 4/15/12, 8PM:

At this hour NECHAMA:

1. Continues to monitor active and volatile weather systems.

2. Has a team en route to assess and most likely respond to the 4/14 tornadoes in Iowa. More details to follow in the next 24 hours.

3. Has a team of volunteers, on a planned week-long trip, that today completed the cleanup of the first of three homes with flooding related needs.

Thanks for supporting NECHAMA and please check back for additional information.

Visit www.NECHAMA.org/donate to make a contribution. Your donation makes our important work possible.

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4/14/12: NECHAMA is actively monitoring the reported severe weather outbreak in Kansas, Oklahoma, and other locations throughout the Central and Midwestern regions of the United States.

We will be updating this site and our Facebook page as information about the extent of the storm system’s impact becomes available.

Tags: Iowa, North Dakota, Tornado
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