Just when we thought we were done with traveling, we found ourselves in Birmingham, Alabama. Only two weeks after returning to the US we saw that there was an opportunity to help fellow Americans in need. On April 27th, Alabama and the surrounding states were hit with one of the largest tornadoes in recent history. The disaster zone was a mile wide and hundreds of miles long with a death toll in the hundreds. The tornado hit down for seconds in each town, but leveled everything in sight almost instantaneously.
We started our visit working with the Red Cross. They set up a relief center in a local school near all the destruction. We helped to sort clothing, unload trucks of donations, distribute food, and to interact with the local residents. Many families came through the center to receive many of the supplies that they needed and to replace a small percentage of all that they lost. Amazing to see the efforts in action.
After spending a nice relaxing Shabbat with our friends who moved to Birmingham, on Sunday we did some of the more physical work in Pratt City, an area of where homes were hit hard. We were working with two amazing Jewish organizations, Nechama and JDRC to help one family clear the remains of their home. The destruction was heartbreaking, but the heart of the volunteers helped us stay uplifted. We met with Kelly, the homeowner who was in tears as she thanked us for the assistance. She retold the story how she and 6 family members and their pet dogs survived by hiding under the stairway. This staircase was the ONLY remaining part of the entire home after the tornado ripped through. Her emotional strength required to continue life after everything has been taken was remarkable.
We worked with other volunteers to move all the items to the curb so that the city can eventually clear the debris. The hot sun beat down as we moved cinder blocks, broke wood beams, cleared couches and beds, sorted through many books, and found invaluable family photos. We saved anything that may have been of importance to Kelly’s family and piled the rest at the curb. The progress we made in just a few days was unbelievable. 
Along our travels we wanted to donate and give to those in need. We did find some very meaningful opportunities and tried our hardest to support non-profits that we believed in. We made small contributions minimizing bargaining with locals and supporting the communities as much as possible. We did volunteer our time for 5 weeks of the trip. But we did not find that one great place to donate where we thought the money would be used to good use. And now we have found it. The two organizations are doing what needs to be done in a real and effective way without overhead and unnecessary other expenses. They are going to the places where need is great and making a difference. Nechama is an organization that brought two giant trailers with all the supplies necessary to proceed with disaster relief efforts. We barely touched the power tools to Yaacov’s dismay, but the shovels, muck buckets, sledge hammers, and wire cutters were invaluable. It made the work possible. 
JDRC is the only other Jewish disaster relief organization in the entire US and helped provide us with food and drinks. JDRC will be working in this area long through the summer to help provide long term rebuilding efforts for these communities who have been hit the hardest.
Mother Nature just hasn’t given humanity a break this year. Unfortunately another tornado hit Missouri just a few days ago. Let’s keep the families in our hearts and minds as they deal with the worst tragedy of their lives.
