Tropical storm Ida ravaged Hunterdon County and the surrounding area, dumping unprecedented amounts of rain over a wide area in a very short period of time. Extensive flooding caused many people to be trapped in their vehicles and many homes to be flooded. Accordingly, this week’s Justice Digest is devoted to highlighting opportunities tor you to Love Thy Neighbor as they try to rebuild their lives and homes. See the links below to get involved with relief efforts or to help one of the many families affected directly. If you can’t give, please share as widely as you can.
If you know of families in need, or opportunities to donate or volunteer, please email GUCC web curator Kelly.Ospina@graceuccnj.org.
Opportunities for direct giving
Shared with permission of the Hunterdon County Anti-Racism Coallition. This is one of their weekly Reparations Friday Initiatives:
Help a Black community organizer in NJ, who lost everything in the floods. Please use the below to contribute to his rebuilding:
Venmo: @Danielle-Carpita
PayPal: dmcarpita@gmail.com.
Help Dave Croop and his wife, who saved numerous people trapped in dangerously high flood waters on Route 202. They then brought at least one victim back home with them and housed them for the night until they could safely make their way home even. They were assisting others even as their own home was suffering damage.
Help Rita “Gea” Johnson rebuild her home after it as destroyed by the storm. Rita and her disabled husband were trapped for six hours in their flooded home in Neshanic until rescuers were able to get to them. Their home and their car were destroyed. Rita is the caretaker for her disabled husband, who is now in the hospital.
Help Breanna and her family who lost everything when their apartment complex in Lambertville was flooded. They and others in this complex have lost everything and need help to start over.
Help the Leary family. This firefigher and his family lost everything when their first floor apartment in Lambertville was flooded.
Help the Restrepo Family. This family lost their home and car in the flooding in Lambertville. Like several others, this family lived in an apartment complex that was completely inundated. They lost their home and their car. The Go Fund Me organizer notes donations can also be sent via Venmo, Cashapp or Paypal. Follow the link below for details.
Help 90 year old grandmother Marge Gazillo who lost everyting in the flooding in Lambertville. Eleven other members of her family were also displaced by the floods, so they are unable to help her.
Help Samantha Leary and family. This family are left with only the clothes on their backs after the floodwaters overtook their home in Lambertville.
Help Pedro and his mother and two young sisters, one an infant, who lost everything when their apartment complex flooded in Lambertville.
opportunities to volunteer or support relief efforts
Lotsa Helping Hands Lambertville
Contact: Dina Fanelli
Details: Coordinating volunteers, donations, food. Also working to set up a loaner station for tools and other equipment useful for cleanup.
Fishermans Mark
Support Fisherman’s Mark in Lambertville as they assist residents in coping with the intense damage caused by the storm. Donate through thier website. They are also accepting donations of gift cards to help displaced families.
DIY Yoga
DIY Yoga in Lambertville is accepting donations of school supplies, canned goods and other non-perishable food items. Leave by the back door off the parking lot if not open.
City of Lambertville
The City of Lambertville website announced an immediate need for volunteers to assist with debris removal. See the City website for details and updates.