Lawrence Home Holds Fundraiser for Community Support Group

For Adam Mirzoeff, there was no time to waste to get the word out about Achiezer, a community resource center that opened last year.

The Lawrence resident opened up his home for a fundraiser on Sunday evening, where more than 300 guests were treated to a gala with food, cocktails and the sounds of the Neimah Singers and Chazan Avromi Freilich. Mirzoeff said he put the event together in 10 days.

"Achiezer is a community organization that is helping local individuals who need help," he said. "It's a no-brainer."

Achiezer was started in 2009 by Rabbi Boruch Bender, who among with doctors, lawyers and other professionals saw a need for an organization to help all residents of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway deal with death, family members in the hospital, legal and financial troubles or any other needs. The goal of the group, according to its website, is to remove the burden from those who may be panicked, distressed or in shock.

"People have nowhere to turn. There is no other place, so they come to us," Bender said. "We don't just refer them to somebody, we walk them through the process."

Bender gave a recent example of the work Achiezer has done. About two weeks ago, a child was hurt on a Saturday afternoon, with deep lacerations on the face. The family did not want to risk going to the emergency room, where a doctor may not have done the best job and potentially leave scars. Instead they called Achiezer, and the organization was able to get a face expert to help the child that night.

"Our job is to do a tremendous amount of medical research, down to the articles the doctors write," Bender said. "We put all that information together. I've called people from every walk of life to help with this community. It's been tremendous to see how people help out their neighbors."

Bender hopes to expand the services the group provides, with a special focus on the elderly and their families.

Nassau County Legislator Howard Kopel, who was at the fundraiser, said that Achiezer defies categorization. "You can't put it in a cubby," he said. "It's a good starting place for anyone with a problem."

Bender had called Kopel when he came into office in January, and the rabbi asked him to help some residents deal with Medicaid issues, the legislator said. Although Kopel initially thought he couldn't help, he spoke with others in government, which led to a resolution of the issue, he said.

"Try to reach out to be in contact with the organization itself and find out what their needs are and fit that into your possibilities," Kopel said was the thrust of his message to the crowd at the fundraiser. "It doesn't necessarily need money; it just needs help and connections."

Mirzoeff said the event was a definite success, with many committing support to Achiezer. But, Mirzoeff added, nothing is as valuable as the attention the event brought to the organization.

"It's limitless, what Achiezer is doing is something no one else has done before," he said. "They are new and if they continue what they're doing, it's impossible for them to fail because everyone needs help."