Frank Storch of Operation Chesed in Baltimore, Maryland.

2. Mrs. Judy Moss was in the hospital
when the storm started. Here’s her
exciting adventure:
more ing to get power back anytime soon. I assured them building was restored two hours before we You really never know how a routine
dios, that I could bring them a few of our generators, so started our class. The Storch’s chessed flowed day can end up! I had an appointment on
gen- at least they would have some power for serving all week. Although the yeshivah still didn’t have Friday at the hospital’s outpatient clinic, for
r to hot food and lights. Some dedicated volunteers its electricity back, the bachurim were in luck what was supposed to be a regular visit.
able delivered the generators to the wedding hall, and that they had this workshop to attend. There After performing certain tests, the doctor
ially the weddings went on as scheduled. It was hot were literally truckloads of water arriving, which realized that I needed further tests, and I was
. It’s without air-conditioning, but the simchah carried volunteers handed out. Everyone appreciated admitted into the hospital. So, during the
it through. the comfortable accommodations even more storm, I was in the hospital, with no idea what
our I also enjoyed my stint at being the “Good because it was a rare oasis amidst the general was happening outside. The hospital had a
ame Humor man” at Yeshivas Ner Israel, since their chaos of the storm. I also got to see other chessed generator, so I didn’t even know that most
was power outage lasted for over five days. I brought in action. Mr. Storch organized additional electricity was down. When I was discharged
gen- bags of ice and bottled water to distribute from my meetings with members of other community on Sunday, I tried calling a friend to come and
ated car. And one night, I surprised them with hundreds organizations to assure that no one would be pick me up, and I couldn’t understand why
CERT of popsicles for the children and their families. It stranded in an overheated home without help, she wasn’t answering. Since I was alone, a
bute was a big hit! especially elderly people. hospital employee wheeled me all through
It was amazing to see the behind-the-scenes the parking lot to find my car. There were no
who Monday, July 2: work of people who are constantly involved in cars in the parking lot, and I had no idea why.
dull FS: Even though the heavy part of the storm had chessed. They looked at this crisis as an opportunity I kept thinking to myself, this is so strange;
ger- passed, the electricity still was not restored because to give even more. where did all of the people go? How could it be
how of the many damaged power lines. Trees were so empty in the hospital parking lot?! I had no
tric- down all over, and the roads were treacherous. Thank you all for your stories! Maybe clue that there had been a disaster. Where
But life still must go on. A chinuch workshop for Hashem sends storms to our communities was everyone? I just wanted to go home.
Yeshivas Ner Israel was scheduled to take place in to remind us that people need people. With So I drove home, happy to be leaving
our backyard shul area. How would people arrive our achdus and acts of chessed, we can join the hospital. Everything was so quiet; it was
nted without streetlights to guide them? We directed together and overcome such emergencies strange. There were only two cars in my
wer, them from the highway and told them to head for with kindness. building’s parking lot, and usually the lot is
hree the only lit house on the block. Baruch Hashem, our Binyan readers, do your communities have full of cars. What’s wrong? I thought.
sday generator kept the Chesed Fund activities going! chessed committees for storms? Maybe you I saw some trees down, and thought that
ect- Rabbi and Mrs. El, Workshop Teachers: can volunteer and be a part of this chessed, maybe there had been a small storm. When
Chasdei Hashem, the power in the workshop too! I came home and my lights didn’t turn on,
I realized that something must be wrong.
I opened my fridge, and it smelled so bad. I
wanted to take a shower, and the water was
freezing.
I called and got to the Storch’s house with
air-conditioning and food. They let me stay
for the night, and then arranged a wonder-
ful place for me to stay. It was so special how
the people with electricity were so gracious
toward their neighbors in need.
more Avenue
blocking Strath
Junior CERT me A tree partially
mb
their fellow comm ers worked hard to help
un
out of power. Fre ity members who were
organized by the e flashlight distribution,
Chessed Fund
and CERT7.
Hamodia Youth Magazine 9