On March 28, NCSY’s Chessed Relief Missions led a group of 21 teens from the Yeshivah of Flatbush for 4 days of rebuilding work in New Orleans, for the community still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. This was NCSY’s 50th (!) relief mission of the year (the goal was 30), in which NCSY leads trips of Jewish teens to New Orleans, Houston and Puerto Rico to help with rebuilding efforts following natural disasters. The trips are transformative for the communities served, but they are even more transformative for the teens who serve.
The group did the usual activities: fixing and gutting houses damaged by natural disasters for people who can’t afford the work or the labor. For most people in New Orleans, it’s the first time they’ve ever met a Jew. The program also focuses on the New Orleans underserved community, working on many programs to help bring happiness into people’s lives. One of our most impressive partners on the ground is a righteous man named Burnell Cotlon. An army veteran and resident of the Lower 9th Ward, Burnell saw a very important need when he returned to the neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina. The area was a food desert: there was no place within 45 minutes for people in the Lower 9th to get fresh food items like produce or bread. So Burnell built the Lower 9th Ward Market. This food market was a lifeline to so many individuals struggling to live a dignified life after they had lost so much. Burnell is a man of the community, always helping his fellow neighbors with food, a place to have internet access and do homework or a neighborhood activity.
On March 30, a very special man we call the “chesed man,” Mike Dube, called Oran Bendelstein from NCSY Relief Missions. “Hey Oran, you know about my organization Sharing Seats? You know what we do? Giving people who are suffering in any way tickets to sports games. I got a great gift from Cross River Bank: it’s four tickets to the Final Four in New Orleans! North Carolina against Duke! Can you find me someone who can give them to some deserving people who can use a boost in life?” The timing was bashert. Oran said, “Are you kidding me? I can’t see any better person than Burnell!”
So the 21 Yeshivah of Flatbush students created a special poster, went to Burnell’s store, and presented the Final Four tickets to him! Tears, appreciation, love and goosebumps. Burnell was blown away and this Saturday (Shabbat, the day of rest), Burnell will be taking three very special and deserving kids from his community to the game of their lives!
And on top of that, a very generous donor has offered money so they can buy t-shirts, souvenirs and food. Thank you to all the incredible people who just want to alleviate suffering from the world and turn it into kindness and happiness for everyone. This is our purpose.
