Sitting in an apartment being furnished or hurricane evacuees, Patty Vallance coordinates volunteer efforts

The Tucson Jewish community has responded to Hurricane Katrina relief needs with cash, volunteers, and professional assistance, and the response will be ongoing: the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will continue to collect relief funds, while synagogues, individuals and other agencies provide housing, material needs and support services for evacuees arriving in Tucson.

According to Stuart Mellan, JFSA president and CEO, $5,000 of local contributions totaling $50,000, has been sent to the Jewish Federation of New Orleans to assist evacuees in Houston. The JFSA has sent $20,000 to the UJC fund thus far, said Mellan. Jewish federations across North America have raised more than $5 million to date, which is being distributed through United Jewish Communities, said Mellan. Up to $1 million from the federations' Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund is supplying hot meals for the thousands of evacuees housed at the Houston Astrodome and nearby facilities.

JFSA is serving as a forum for information-sharing among various groups, said Mellan. Josh Protas, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and Jewish community volunteer Jill Rich have been involved in meetings with the mayor's staff about the best ways to serve the evacuees.

The federation has been directing volunteers to World Care, said Mellan, adding that the non-profit is moving to a 40,000-square-foot warehouse. There is an "enormous need to sort donations," he said, which will be one of the projects for Make A Difference Day on Nov. 6.
"Our prayers go out to the people affected; through our coordinated effort on behalf of the Southern Arizona community we can send aid and demonstrate our support," said Bobby Present, JFSA board chair.

Members of Congregation Or Chadash have sponsored an apartment for a self-evacuated New Orleans family of six due to arrive this week at the Catalina Mission apartment complex at Swan and 29th. The owners have offered 75 apartments to hurricane evacuees relocating to Tucson.
 
Or Chadash congregant Patty Vallance, who said she was inspired by fellow congregants Susan Kaplan and Betsey Sandlin's aid efforts, approached the congregation's leadership with the idea of furnishing an apartment for evacuees. With the help of 26 Or Chadash members who gathered  last Sunday, plus donations from Miracle Center Thrift Shop and Swanson's Furniture Store,  "the apartment is gorgeous," said Vallance.

A "volunteer dilettante" mom preparing for her daughter's Bat Mitzvah on Oct. 1, Vallance said of her latest project, "I stirred the pot. I'm doing it because it needs to get done. It's so special because you're creating something sustainable, making a lasting imprint for this family."

Beth Mitchneck and her husband, who sponsored the apartment's two bathrooms, brought their two pre-teen daughters to help paint. "They're really into it," said Mitchneck. Impressed with the family's involvement, Vallance said, "She's modeling behavior for the next generation of Jewish leadership." Vallance herself shows no sign of letting up: she has gathered more Or Chadash congregants, members of other synagogues, and friends to prepare six more apartments for stricken families. And her work has inspired Congregation Anshei Israel members to take on their own refurbishing project.

"Patty's efforts have been reimbursed for $1,100" by the Federation, noted Mellan.

As evacuees began arriving at the Tucson Convention Center shelter, Jill Rich said she  thought "it would be nice for people who were disabled" or had other physical problems not to have to sleep on cots. She asked Temple Emanu-El to fund some hotel rooms and the congregation leadership agreed. But, said Rich, when the hotels were called, some donated free rooms with breakfast for the evacuees.

Congregation Or Chadash plans to host newly housed evacuee families at services on Oct. 7, said Vallance.

"The Red Cross did a phenomenal job for the evacuees" here, noted Rich. "They really met the needs of the people. It was the best operation I've ever seen; people were treated with dignity and respect." Some in the Jewish community had concerns about the American Red Cross because of the International Committee of the Red Cross's denial of full membership to Magen David Adom, Israel's equivalent to the Red Cross, but, noted Mellan, the concerns are "unwarranted. The American Red Cross has been nothing but supportive of Magen David Adom."

Jewish Family & Children's Service will continue its active role in supporting former TCC evacuees and those arriving in Tucson on their own. Since Nancy Alexander, JFCS administrative director of social services, sent an e-mail soliciting support from members of the Southern Arizona branch of the Arizona chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, she said "my phone never stopped ringing." Social workers are offering counseling, assisting evacuees with  nursing home referrals and medical treatment, procuring needed eyeglasses and wheelchairs, and helping people lacking essential medications, she said.

Further disaster planning by Pima County health agencies is necessary, said Alexander, who was about to attend a planning meeting when she spoke to the AJP. "What if a major earthquake hit California?" she asked, echoing Gov. Napolitano's recent concern. "We could get 750,000 evacuees."

One New Orleans family, Chris and Kathleen Grant, along with their 2-year-old daughter and their dog,  headed for Tucson and arrived here on Sept.1. They chose Tucson because Kathleen's father had moved here six months ago. "We've all known - local, state and federal [authorities] - this has been coming for a long time. People get complacent," Kathleen said in a recent phone interview, noting that her cell phone was finally working. The Grants had "already been through this a month earlier" when they evacuated for Hurricane Dennis to Lufkin, Texas, where they were certain to get a hotel room. "We were lucky. Not everyone can afford to leave," said Kathleen.

When Hurricane Katrina warnings were broadcast the Grants returned to Lufkin on Aug. 27, she said, thinking that they would be back home in a few days. But, "it's been more than two weeks, and we have no idea what happened to our house."

Long Realty agent Robyn Pomonis overheard the Grants discussing their situation in a local supermarket. She offered to help, and was searching for housing when another Long agent "practically donated her condo rental unit." Pomonis said she was "simply doing for them what I hope somebody would do for me."

The Grants own a walking tour company in the French Quarter of New Orleans, which is supposedly intact, said Kathleen. "We're going back as soon as possible," she said. "We expect to be back up by Mardi Gras." Meanwhile, Kathleen says the Tucson community has been "very supportive." Evacuees with homes in the Grants' zip code area were given the go-ahead last Friday to secure their homes; Chris was planning to return to New Orleans on Sept. 19. The rest of the family will be joining him as soon as possible.

As Mellan told the AJP this week, "The story is still unfolding."

For more information about ways to help, call Josh Protas at the Jewish Community Relations Council, 577-9393, or your synagogue.