WINTER STORM RELIEF

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU

Our Shalom Austin Family is here for you now and in the days ahead. This week’s weather plunged our city and state into a frigid state of emergency and our staff and lay leaders have been working hard to connect with those in need while partnering with Austin City officials and support services. As we begin our community’s relief efforts, we recognize it will take time to assess the multiple ways our lives and homes have been affected by this week’s events. We will continue to update everyone on ways to volunteer and help our community members as more needs arise.

Storm Relief Emergency Financial Assistance

Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service is collecting funds to distribute to our community members in need. We recognize that not everyone will be able to afford the home repairs needed after the snow melts and pipes defrost. Others cannot afford to refill their food pantries or will struggle to pay their utility bills in the months ahead. Jewish Family Service case workers will work directly with our community members to help them cover these unexpected costs.

Donate to our Storm Relief Emergency Financial Assistance Fund or fill out a request for assistance so that one of our case workers can be in touch with you next week.

Donate

Request Assistance

Hebrew Free Loan of Austin

If you are experiencing an emergency or will need significant home repairs post-severe weather, and need assistance, Hebrew Free Loan of Austin has interest free loans of $500 for emergencies (no guarantor needed) and up to $7000 general loans available. Email operations@hfla.org for more information.

Food Assistance

We expect to experience busy grocery stores in the days ahead. If you are willing to fulfill a community member’s grocery needs by contacting them before you go to the store, purchasing (and being paid back) for their groceries and delivering them, please sign up here.

Volunteer to Grocery Shop

If you are unable to grocery shop for yourself or you are in a high risk health category and do not feel safe entering a busy store, please sign up here and we will connect you to a volunteer in your neighborhood ASAP.

Grocery Shopping Assistance

JFS also operates a food pantry that delivers non-perishable bags of food to individuals monthly. Would you like to be added to our food pantry recipient list? If so, email Arielle Levy.

Home Repair Resources List

Are you a contractor, plumber, HVAC system repair company or handy person willing to help a community member in need? Jewish Family Service is compiling a list of individuals who are willing to help repair the homes of community members in need after this week’s storms and in the future. Our case workers work with individuals every day who experience home emergencies and cannot afford to pay for repairs.

We recognize that other needs exist including identifying temporary housing for individuals with severe home repairs. We will continue to work with our community partners to identify available resources.

Please fill out this form so that our case managers can contact you.

Home Repairs Assistance

Our community has weathered many storms together. We are continuing to respond to COVID-19 and we will continue to find and garner strength from one another despite the challenges we face. As Shabbat approaches, the snow begins to melt, and we all assess the damage that the storms this week has caused, let us continue to fulfill the mitzvah of loving our neighbor as ourselves, let us find ways to repair our community as we honor our role in creation, our responsibility to take care of one another.

If you are able, please consider making a donation to our Winter Storm Relief Fund.

Winter Storm Relief Fund