Just days after a powerful tornado tore through Clayton, knocking out power to their schools and even some of their homes, a group of Clayton students spent their Monday afternoon (May 19) at Kol Rinah synagogue, assembling care packages for first responders. Inside the Staenberg Community Room, it was a scene of organized chaos — kids darting between tables stacked with water bottles, granola bars and beef jerky, their hands moving quickly as they pack essentials for the workers clearing debris and restoring power across the city.
Rabbi Noah Arnow was at Kol Rinah when the storm hit on Friday afternoon, May 16. Fortunately, the building itself emerged unscathed. “We never lost power,” Arnow said. “When I came back upstairs, there were just a few twigs down around the building, but that was it.”
Recognizing that others weren’t so lucky, Kol Rinah, which is located just a few miles from the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Clayton, decided to open its doors as a community refuge.
“We have plenty of space. We have electricity, water, air conditioning, internet and outlets,” Arnow said. “For people who are trying to work, who need a cool place, or who need somewhere for kids to do homework when home isn’t a hospitable place right now, this is something we actually can provide.”
On Sunday, May 18, Arnow got a text from Abby Goldstein, a Clayton parent, about bringing fifth graders together to assemble care packages for first responders. “I said, sure, we have space to accommodate them,” Arnow said. “It was easy to say yes.”
“We wanted to be in a contained space and do something where we could be helpful without being disruptive or in the way,” Goldstein said. “We decided to bring in not just fifth graders from Captain (Elementary School) but all of them together across the district. They can meet each other, do something to help the community and hopefully have fun.”
For Goldstein, a member at Congregation Temple Israel, it’s about more than just snacks and water bottles. It’s about setting an example. “I’m not a teacher, but I wanted to bring people together,” she said. “And I want my kids to know how lucky they are and to give back to the community.”
For the kids who came out, the impact is already clear. Ezra Lerman, a fifth grader from Glenridge Elementary, said it feels good to help. “It makes me feel really good because there were some workers in our neighborhood that worked like all night and they hadn’t gotten a break,” he said. “And now they’re going to get, like, snacks and water and stuff.”
Andrea Castagna, a fifth grader from Captain, said she joined the effort because she wanted to support the people working hard to restore power and clear debris. “I want to help my community,” she said. “I want to make sure everyone can get their power back soon.”
Teddy Scott, also a fifth grader from Glenridge, said he feels proud to be helping. “It makes me feel good,” he said. “Because they’ve been helping our community, and they deserve something.”
As the gallon Ziploc bags piled up, the kids buzzed with the energy. It was clear this wasn’t just about filling an unexpected day off – Clayton schools were canceled Monday because of the storm aftermath. It had become a real-life testament to the power of community — the kind that steps up when the storm passes but the work remains.
For Goldstein, the turnout was a bit of a shock. What started as a small idea quickly grew into a full-scale production, thanks to a network of parents and teachers who rallied with little more than a few WhatsApp messages and a sense of purpose.
“I think you’re going to be amazed at how many kids are in there,” she said. “We thought maybe 30 would show, but it’s got to be more like 75.”
For Arnow, it was a reminder that being a refuge is about more than just cool air and power strips. It’s about creating a place where people can come together, even in uncertain times.
“We can’t do everything,” he said, “but we can figure out the ways that we actually can be helpful, both to our own members and to the wider community.”
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