On June 22, a tornado destroyed homes and businesses in Coal City-population 5,500. Nearly 10 people were injured; however-miraculously-no lives were lost.

Since the tornado struck, thousands of volunteers have traveled to the area, donating time and materials to assist with cleaning up and rebuilding the community.

Among them has been a seven-member IsraAID team, traveling nearly 10,000 kilometers-about 6,200 miles-from Israel to help Coal City homeowners gut and fix their ruined homes.

The team arrived in Coal City on July 3 for a 15-day mission. They were housed and fed at Coal City High School, and equipment was provided so team members could focus on the job at hand.

At barely two weeks since the tornado hit the town, the devastation seemed overwhelming.

“Everything was messed up,” said team leader Jonathon Helmes. “Some houses don’t have a roof anymore. Some are completely destroyed.”

The team’s first efforts focused on a damaged home. The family had moved in just days before the tornado. Their son, who was turning 3, had lost most of his toys.

“We have pretty much been doing everything from cleaning up, taking trees down and cutting them up. Anything we can do to help the people who are here,” Helmes said.

The team also helped celebrate the little boy’s birthday. He received a toy chainsaw and immediately went to work “sawing” a log with one of his new Israeli friends.

“It was nice to see this little boy happy, celebrating his birthday,” Helmes said.

IsraAID is an Israeli non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides disaster relief around the world.

“We have a pool of several dozen volunteers for global professional deployment,” said Shachar Zahavi, IsraAID founding director. The organization has brought disaster relief to nearly 30 countries over the past decade. In the United States, IsraAID sent teams to provide assistance after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and the Oklahoma tornadoes in 2013.

IsraAID’s volunteers include professional medics, search and rescue squads, post-trauma experts, and community mobilizers. Partner organizations like JUF provide crucial financial support.

In Coal City, the IsraAID team collaborated with volunteers from Team Rubicon, a similar organization of U.S. military veterans using their specialized skills and experiences to deploy emergency response teams for disaster relief.

It was Helmes’ first mission to the United States, and he said appreciated the spirit of cooperation.

“Staying in communities and working with the people is the best way to know a country,” he said. “It’s so nice to see people willing to help.” n

For more information, visit www.israAID.co.il .

JUF is a partner with IsraAID.