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Jewish Life at Duke Western North Carolina Disaster Response Trip – February 2025

Home Blog Jewish Life at Duke Western North Carolina Disaster Response Trip – February 2025

Applications now open for Jewish Life at Duke’s Volunteer Overnight Service Trip to Western North Carolina – Hurricane Helene Disaster Response Efforts

Volunteers engaging in recovery efforts.
Source: Nechama: A Jewish Response to Disaster

Applications are now open for Jewish Life at Duke’s Volunteer Overnight Service Trip to Western North Carolina, to provide disaster response, from Sunday, February 23 through Monday, February 24, 2025. Applications are due by February 3, 2025.

In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused over 100 deaths in the U.S. and submerged numerous homes throughout western North Carolina and the southeastern states. The hardest-hit areas were the mountains, where intense flooding and landslides devastated many communities.

Current Duke students are invited to join Jewish Life at Duke for a transformative overnight trip in Western North Carolina to support the ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In partnership with Nechama: Jewish Response to Disaster, we’ll be working on both immediate response and long-term recovery efforts, helping to rebuild Western North Carolina in a sustainable way.

Rooted in Jewish values and wisdom, our service trip will include:

  • Hands-on recovery work
  • Daily reflection sessions
  • Building deep, meaningful connections with fellow students

Want to join us to make a meaningful impact on our neighboring communities? Read the details below:

Dates

The service trip will take place on Sunday, February 23 through Monday, February 24, 2025.

Participants will leave Duke’s campus on 7:00am on Sunday, February 23 and return to campus around 8:30pm on Monday, February 24

We will participate in two volunteer workdays. The volunteer workdays will take place on Sunday from 11:00am-4:00pm and on Monday from 9:00am-4:00pm.

Location

volunteer wearing blue shirt sanding a wall
Source: Nechama, Jewish Response to Disaster

We will be traveling to Western North Carolina. Our partnering organization, Nechama: Jewish Response to Disaster will determine the exact location prior to our trip, based on where volunteers are most needed. Most of the work takes place roughly within an hour drive of Asheville, NC. Participants will be notified of the location in advance of departure.

Transportation

Depending on availability of participants, students will carpool together in a fellow student’s car (Jewish Life at Duke will reimburse gas costs based on mileage after the trip). Jewish Life at Duke staff will coordinate the carpool logistics. Students will indicate whether they are willing to drive others in their application. You are not required to have a car in order to apply or participate.

Depending on group size, a charter bus may transport participants to and from Duke’s campus.

Accommodations & Food

Participants will stay as a group overnight near the volunteer worksite in Western North Carolina, and provided with basic accommodations. Depending on the group size, participants will either stay in volunteer lodging provided by Nechama, or in a nearby hotel.

Participants will be provided three meals a day, the cost of which will be covered by Jewish Life at Duke.

Cost

Students will participate in the overnight service trip at no cost to them. Student drivers will be reimbursed for gas based on mileage following the trip. Three meals a day will be provided at no cost to students, and the cost of accommodations will be covered by Jewish Life at Duke.

Professional Staff

Student participants will be accompanied by two members of Jewish Life at Duke’s professional staff for the entirety of the service trip.

Requirements

  • Current Duke students (undergraduate or graduate/professional) may apply.
  • Please note, to ensure your safety and full participation, you must be able to lift 15 pounds and stand/walk for up to two hours at a time.
  • No prior disaster experience required. Training will be provided on site.
  • Tools and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) equipment are provided.
  • Volunteers of all faiths are welcome. You do not have to be Jewish to join us.

Apply Today

Applications are due on Monday, February 3, 2025, and accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited, apply today!

Following the submission of your application, a member of the Jewish Life at Duke engagement team will reach out to you to schedule a brief interview. 

If you have questions please reach out to Jewish Life at Duke’s Assistant Director Rebecca Ezersky at rebecca.ezersky@duke.edu or Springboard Social Justice Fellow Seth Wittenberg at seth.wittenberg@duke.edu.


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About Jewish Life at Duke

Jewish Life at Duke (JLD) is the hub for all things Jewish on Duke’s campus. An accredited Hillel as well as a department within Duke University’s Division of Student Affairs, Jewish Life at Duke is guided by a mission to empower Jewish students to learn and grow intellectually and spiritually; to inspire and nurture personal paths to Jewish identity; and to cultivate community and friendship. Comprising the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and the Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel, JLD takes a pluralistic approach to Judaism to ensure that all Jewish students, regardless of affiliation, are welcome and included.

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