The green birds have flown!

Dear friends and family,
Installation #1 of Operation Flood Funds has been delivered!!  As Paula is caring for 3 people now who are in poor health, we thought it best to release before the goal - for an online total of $6,408.79!!    WOWZERS!

We will re-amp for Installation #2 shortly... Please stay tuned for more updates.   Thanks so much, from our tribe to yours.  xoxoxo

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.  ~Jane Howard

A turn for the worse

There was a lot of hope initially - hope that the insurance company would compensate for most of the structural damage, hope that they might be back in the house by December, hope that once they were settled into the rental, Pop's health would improve.

Wile the most important thing - Pop's health - has improved and the symptoms of his congestive heart failure are currently in check, there is bad news overall.  It looks like insurance is coming at less than HALF of the original estimate, and worse of all, our Uncle Tony's heath is in very bad shape right now.  He's been in the hospital and so his income is cut and the bills are piling up.

At this point, we plan to send out your donations this Friday, as the money is sorely needed for daily living.  We thank you for all of the generosity, thoughts, prayers, and well wishes, and ask if you could please continue to send all of the above in the direction of Owego, NY.  It's not a good scene right now.

Next week we will re-up our fundraising, as it looks like this struggle will be ongoing for longer than anyone would like.  If you can believe it - the house is STILL NOT DRY!!

If you have not received a letter of acknowledgement yet, please rest assured it is on the way.

Progress, slow and steady

     Hi all, please forgive the delay.  We have been settling into our new home and long commutes and new school... Safe to say we're finally in a routine.


     We are so close to our $10K goal... progress on the house is slow and steady.  Wiring has been completed, but the house is STILL too wet for sheetrock.  Plumbing should begin soon.  The progress is held up by the fact that insurance has not given a final word on how much they will cover.. and it may not be as much as originally hoped for.

     Paula, Tony, Nan and Pop are currently pretty comfortable in a rental situation just outside of Owego.  On a less positive note, Poppy's health is stable but not great, as he struggles with congestive heart failure.  Nana, however, has been caught walking independently and saying things like, "Well Bill, I guess we're going down in a blaze of glory".  You gotta love it!  We think she's trying to escape back to Eatontown.

     I am officially crossing the line from fundraising to begging... we'd love to get to that 10K mark so we can cut a substantial check and send it along.... please spread the word!!

OFFICIALLY HALFWAY THERE!

Please forgive my lapse in posting progress - my family just moved and we were offine and off phone for a week! In that time, your generosity added another $655 to the fund, bringing us to...
DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!

$5562!!!  

This number only includes online donations - if we include offline donations, the total comes to:

$8, 062

There are some great updates going on, as well.   Paula, Tony, Nana, and Poppy have been reunited in Owego thanks to the offer of a local who had a home for rent.  Both Nana and Poppy seem to be taking turns for the better in regards to their health, now that they are temporarily settled back into a familiar area.  The deconstruction and reconstruction is happening slowly but surely, and most importantly - steadily.  

Thank you so much for your support - and spread the word!!

Love,

The Juska Family

You saw the challenge and surpassed it!

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You saw the challenge to raise $4500 by the end of the week... and you surpassed it! Thank you for every penny that has poured in, and for the encouragement and kind words. Some of the inspiration that has been sent:

"Sending you all our love and positive vibes from The S. Family in Brooklyn."  


"You're all in our thoughts"  -W.G.


"We wish you and your family all the best and God Bless You"  -V.O.


"You and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers"  -K.G.

The human spirit

Dearest friends and family,
     Can you believe that we are nearly halfway to our goal of $10,000??  What an amazing tribute to the human spirit you all are.  Generous donations have poured in, both financial and equally importantly, donations of encouragement.  We can't thank you enough for each and every penny, kind word, email, call, and positive wishes that have been sent this way.

     Currently, we are trying to decide what the best temporary placement for Nana and Poppy will be.  There are a few promising options that will keep them near the care that they need, and that will allow their caretaker to stay with them.  Faye, who has been caring for Nana and Poppy for the last few years, is likely to be sainted -  she is currently living away from her family with Nana and Poppy, until we can get them settled.

     Paula continues to maintain a positive, inspirational outlook while rebuilding not only her own home but the school in which she works as principal and teacher. Wherever she gets her energy, they ought to bottle it up like Poland Spring.  She sends her gratitude to each of you.

Day 2: Almost Halfway There!!!

The support is pouring in - here are some of the messages of encouragement that have been received so far!

"Sending you positive thoughts. I wish there was more I could do..." -Y.N.

"Your family is an inspiration. We are all rooting for you"  -T&M.S.

"Paula and Tony, Hang in there! Love, M&B.J."

"Positive vibes coming your way!" -S.T.

Did I mention that pictures are worth 1,000 words?  Or should I say, $4,310 words?  On behalf of the entire Juska clan, I offer our deepest gratitude for your generous contributions.  We are already almost halfway there!

       4310

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Rebuild the House on Academy Street

Dear Family and Friends of the Juska clan:

     Thank you for inquiring about how to help our family through this devastation. For those of you who are kind enough to read our story, here's an introduction.  Paula and Tony Smith- aunt and uncle to some of us, and sister and brother-in-law to others, have been living in beautiful Owego, NY for the last 7 years.  During the last 4 years, they have generously housed and nurtured our Nana and Poppy (Mom and Dad to some of us, Bill and Muriel Juska to others) while they enjoy an amazing quality of life in their 90s! What Paula and Tony have done is immeasurable and I do not think any of us can truly understand the personal and financial sacrifices they have made.

     Two weeks ago the picturesque Susquehanna River, fueled by torrential rains from two hurricanes in rapid succession, blindsided Paula and Owego with the worst flood ever in that town.  Not only is the house extensively damanged, but Nana and Poppy are temporarily displaced as well, and in poor health.

     Pictures are worth a thousand words - here is just a sample of the devastation. Try to imagine your kitchen today... and then seeing it like this tomorrow:

Or imagine this pile on your curb: All your kitchen cabinets, furniture, sheetrock, appliances...

 

  While caring for Nana and Poppy, Paula has worked 12 hour days as teacher and principal in the local school.  The impact she has had on the school and the community was dramatically demonstrated after the flood.  Parents from her school showed up help the arduous process of tearing down and building up.  In It’s A Wonderful Life, Bedford Falls turned out for George Bailey when he was in trouble.  In Owego, St. Pats’ parents turned out for Paula - she is the George Bailey of Owego.

     Our family started this site to channel all the incredibly generous offers of financial assistance, and to keep everyone up to date.  Your kind contribution, of any amount, will be donated to helping Paula and Tony repair their house, recover furniture and possessions, and once again establish a home sweet home, as they so generously created for Nana and Poppy in the past.