Compassion Coalition helps send $1 million in clothing donations to Israel

Local organization Compassion Coalition has partnered with Albany-based humanitarian aid and fellow nonprofit Jezreel International to donate $1 million in clothing donations to war victims in Israel.

On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired rockets from Gaza into parts of Israel including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and infiltrated areas of Israel near the Gaza border. Israel responded with military strikes on Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war, according to multiple reports. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh blamed Israel for the war, accusing it of "creating a climate of hatred, violence, incitement, and violating international law,” according to USA Today.

As of Sunday, the death toll from both sides had reportedly surpassed 1,100, according to Israeli and Palestinian authorities. Officials on both sides said that Hamas had taken dozens of Israelis, and potentially some Americans, hostage.

As of Sunday, the State Department was working to verify claims that Americans were among the hostages in Israel, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken on NBC's "Meet the Press."

As of Sunday evening, more than 123,000 people in Gaza were displaced due to the destruction of their homes or the fear of destruction, according to the United Nations.

“We’re saddened. It’s a horrible thing,” said Mike Servello, CEO of Compassion Coalition. “So we want to try to help wherever we can. These poor people that are displaced, there are needs. From what I understand from our partners that ship, they didn’t want food, they’re allowing clothing to go in, so that’s how we’re responding.”

National response

U.S. officials including President Joe Biden and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) have affirmed their support for Israel in response to the attacks. The White House said that Biden spoke with Netanyahu on Saturday and declared that terrorism is never justifiable.

Senator Gillibrand was briefed about the security situation by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker on Monday, and issued the following statement in response:

“Yesterday, I spoke with DOD leadership regarding the current situation in Israel,” Gillibrand said in the statement. “I was glad to hear that we are already acting to fill critical munitions needs for the Iron Dome system that protects Israeli civilians from rocket and missile attacks. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and support efforts to aid Israel and secure the release of all hostages."

Partnering to help communities in need

Servello has a longtime relationship with Jezreel International and its CEO Barry Feinman. Since 1996, Jezreel International has shipped crucial supplies like food and medicine to nations in need all over the world, according to the organization’s website.

Feinman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Servello said that Compassion Coalition often focuses on providing food, partnering with dozens of agencies including the Rescue Mission of Utica and running a Bargain Grocery store in Utica. In this case, Jezreel International told the coalition that clothing was the most urgent need for war victims and displaced people.

“This one, because it’s an emergency and because Jezreel does it on a regular basis, we just deferred it to them and what they needed,” Servello said.

Compassion Coalition moved to a new, over 100,000 square foot warehouse space in April. Servello said that the space allows the organization to receive and store more products and thus enhance their responses to whatever needs may arise.

On Tuesday morning, the coalition was loading tons of clothing donated by individuals and retailers like Amazon and Jos A. Bank into trucks. The warehouse contained pallets of soft blankets, men’s dress shirts and blazers, shoes, and more.

Servello said that Compassion Coalition strives to address whatever needs may arise in communities near and far.

“We like to poise ourselves so that we can respond when there's an emergency,” Servello said. “We help any way we can. That’s what we’re here for.”

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Compassion Coalition and Jezreel International donations for Israel