1 person found this review helpful
NECHAMA - Jewish Response to Disaster
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Featured Review
February 26, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I first met NECHAMA: The Jewish Response to Disaster in September 2005 immediately after Hurricane Katrina decimated the Mississippi Gulf Coast and, by overwhelming the poorly constructed levees, New Orleans. I was serving as lead staff for the United Jewish Communities (now Jewish Federations of North America) Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Mitigation Committee. In that role, I was responsible to help coordinate the resources of all Jewish non-profit organizations as the Jewish community responded with money and hands-on resources to the immediate and long-tern needs of victims in the disaster zones and in evacuee host communities. NECHAMA immediately deployed two full trucks/teams to the outskirts of New Orleans and UJC helped support its efforts with several grants. NECHAMA drew hundreds/perhaps thousands of volunteers to its work sites over an extended stay in the region and helped gutt and prepare for rebuilding hundreds of homes in the region. In August 2006, my wife and two sons joined me for a week's deployment with NECHAMA where we worked alogside volunteers from several states in three different homes that week. In one case, the homeowner, an African American lay church leader, told us that in the entire year since Katrina hit, the only people who reached out to help him clean his home were the volunteers provided by NECHAMA. In subsequent years, I spent some time visiting work crews deployed in Atlanta and helped facilitate arrangements for NECHAMA deployments in upstate New York and Nashville. This is an organization which, with very limited financial and human resources, provides immeasurable benefits to victims in their darkest moments after a disaster strikes. Its volunteer and professional leadership is selfless and totally committed to the Jewish tradition of "Tikkun Olam", healing the world. In light of all the good it has done and continues to do, NECHAMA should be recognized for its efforts as a world-class volunteer, non-government organization.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2012
I am the past Executive Director of Catholic United FinanciaL Foundation and the person responsible for starting Catholic United Response. Without the cooperation, friendship and leaderhip of the staff and board of NECHAMA we would not exist as another disaster response organization. I tell everyone our story of how we are modeled after NECHAMA and how they served as mentors, trainers and friends throughout the planning and development of our response team. We continue to seek their leadership and guidance as we know they are the BEST. I know as an organization they operate on a very tight budget and need not only your volunteer support but financial support.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
March 18, 2012
Fantastic organization! I have never felt more like I was doing something good for the world than when I was working with them. Though I was only 19 when I worked with them, it was by far the most eye opening experience of my life. It wasn't just that we were helping people pick up their lives after a tragic experience. My time with Nechama woke a part of me up I didn't know existed before. I felt more like myself in the month I was with them than I ever had before in my life. Through the rest of my life, I will always look back on my time with Nechama with affection. It will serve as a constant reminder of what kindhearted, driven people can accomplish when they decide to work together. It will also serve as a constant reminder of what I can do. So much of what we accomplish in life is dependent on what we think we can accomplish. I will always be grateful the Nechama for reminding me that I can do more than I think I can.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
March 15, 2012
I worked with Nechama in Alabama, helping to clean up from the terrible tornados in May 2011. They were so nice and helpful-really enabling us to do effective and fun relief work.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
March 7, 2012
My wife and I heared a presentation about Nechama and decided to do something. We travel to New Orleans twice at our own expense, we been to Hugo MN, as well as southern MN. I have worked in the office my wife has gone to Iowato help. We arenow to old to travel and work a full day but we support Nechama with monthly monetary donations.Why? because as Jews we need to leave this eartyh in bettter shape than when we arrived on the scene,. Nechama is an agency for repair of the earth nechama is staffed with great employees.We have met some wonderful mentsches in our deployments. Ed Pickett and Jan Leach
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
March 4, 2012
Nechama came to the rescue of Louisville, Ky in 2009 when we had a surprise heavy rainfall. They were a self-contained mobile rescue operation with all the tools, expertise and leaders to guide our volunteers in the clean-up effort. The Nechama folks are great, caring people. A testament to their loyalty are those who come back and volunteer in other areas just to work with the folks from Nechama. You know you're going to have a good volunteer experience in a difficult situation with these trusted leaders. I would work with them again and have referred friends to them throughout the country. They serve a very worthwhile, non-denominational service.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
March 2, 2012
I worked with Nechama during the spring of 2011 throughout Mississippi after tornadoes ravaged the region. The organization was an all inclusive experience of disaster relief. I spent time doing search and rescue, as well as relief, it was a life changing experience and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that Nechama provided to me. The service they provide is paramount and I hope that the organization continues to flourish. I am proud to have been a part of such an amazing organization.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
March 1, 2012
I worked with NECHAMA during the TN Spring floods of 2010. They trained and provided leadership to over 80 AmeriCorps members from across the country. As the federal disaster coordinator directing these crews, I was constantly impressed with NECHAMA's want to serve the community. NECHAMA consistently followed through on committments to train, educate, lead, direct, and support volunteers in the field. Their focus on serving all residents in affected communities was always central to their work. Their coordination with other agencies and the quality of services they provided were second to none. Before I met Dan and NECHAMA I worked on the ground for 6 months post Hurricane Katrina, 2 months post Hurricane Ike and managed thousands of AmeriCorps teams on disaster from base for 5 years. The services NECHAMA provides are second to none. If you have the chance to work with them...do not pass it up!
More feedback...
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
February 29, 2012
I have had the great fortune of volunteering with NECHAMA for 15 years. While I am the Board (though I swore that I would never attend another meeting after I retired) my real passion is working as a volunteer in the field after the disaster. This is where I meet and work with some of the greatest people in the world -- both the other volunteers and our clients, the disaster victims. NECHAMA has built it's reputation based on the simple principle of "how can we continue to provide better service to our clients ..... those who have lost so much, so suddenly. The staff, though incredibly small in number, are among the most dedicated and compassionate people I have known. I can not count how many times I have heard a spontaneous comment from a volunteer say, "This has been a life changing experience. I certainly has for me!!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
February 29, 2012
Working as Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC, I received 24 hour's notice that my team would be heading to Nashville, TN to help with flood recovery efforts. Initial information from AmeriCorps was minimal, so we didn't really know what to expect. About 48 hours after arriving in Nashville, it was clear my team and I were in for a life-changing experience. Our time in Nashville was, indeed, life-changing, and this is mostly if not entirely because of Nechama - Jewish Response to Disaster. We had the privilege of working with Dan Hoeft, a couple other staff members, and several Nechama volunteers. In an organized fashion, Nechama brought swift action in the form of direct service to people whose homes had been severely damaged by the floods. Nechama was all about doing the work that needed to be done. We worked long hours and worked incredibly hard, led by Dan and the Nechama crew. In one month we mucked and gutted a few dozen homes, and provided support to a few dozen individuals and families that were in crisis. My time with Nechama helped propel my into a career in human services non-profits. Nechama changed my life as I watched it change the lives of so many others.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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