Unfortunately some don’t get it, hence the article. Simply put, organizations are there to use, not to abuse. Officials from several organizations revealed to TLS some shocking calls that were made to their organizations during the recent crisis, which they say are a complete abuse of their intended purposes.
An example? (as told to TLS by officials). “Hi, you’ve reached Chaveirim, what’s the emergency?”
Woman: “They didn’t plow our road, maybe some guys can plow the road for us?”.
Or how about the dozens who called Chaveirim asking for a ride to a wedding?
And it’s not just Chaveirim.
Police: Where’s the emergency?
Group of boys: Can you give us a ride from (moderated) to (moderated)?
Or how about this one: “Officer, I’ve been calling the post office all day and no one answers”.
Police: Do you know you called the police department?
Caller: “Well yes, I hope you can help me, how much is a stamp?”
Another one.
Woman to police: Is the State of Emergency still in effect?
Police: Yes – only essential personnel are allowed out on the roadways today.
Woman: “My son is a cart boy at Walmart, shouldn’t he be considered essential”?
“This is a blatant abuse of critical resources during a time of crisis”, Police Chief Rob Lawson said referring to similar calls made during the recent crisis.
“It’s one thing if it’s a medical emergency”, Lawson said. “But this is blatant abuse”.
Hatzolah members tell TLS, similar calls were placed to their emergency lines.
And it’s not just during such storms either, it’s all year round, officials tell TLS.
So the officials have this unanimous request: We are here for your service, but please, do not abuse it. TLS RC.
Some of these callers seem like they should have been calling the pharmacy for their refills.
giving rides to weddings during a snow storm is NOT abusing chaverim. If anybody abused chaverim it was the police department! Instead of using their own resources they dumped everything on chaverim.
A crisis brings out the best and also the worst in individuals !
they should fine people for calling the police if not an emergency
tell me just how calling the police to take you and from a wedding is an emergency? Agree with #1 their first phone call should have been to the pharmacy.
I don’t think the police abused anyone. All these people wanna play police so here was your chance. All the strives and lights on their cars can finally be put to good use!!
Your only abused, if you put your organizations in the position to be abused. Some times, one has to say NO to these crazy demands.
Common sense is lacking for some residents.
I must confess, I did miss that cart boy @ walmart the other day!
ride to a wedding ? depends – if u r the chosson, kallah, or immediate family – yes. Otherwise no.
I have said it before on TLS but now everyone seems to agree. Please tell me what the difference is between these calls and a resident flagging down a police officer and asking them to turn their oven off after sundown on Friday?
Hi, you’ve reached Chaveirim, what’s the emergency?!? Emergency?!?!? Since when did Chaveirim become a emergency organization?!?!?!? A flat tire is an emergency?!? A lockout is an emergency?!? Chaveirim means “Friends”. A Friends in the time of need is a friend indeed. When there are only 60(!) ppl by a chasana in Lake Terrace that is a friend in need. Plowing a street as was the case during this past snow stom was a CITY/STATE in need. If there was only one street in Lakewood that needed to be plowed Chaveirim would have been there in a jiffy and plowed it (even with a tea spoon if that was the only tool that could get).
I have to agree with #6 we do have these clubs and organizations within Lakewood that ride around and think that they are the law and are above the law and try to handle certain emergencies on their own so here was the chance and opportunity to see what these police officers go through everyday. Maybe now these inviduals will learn to respect the police.
To #9 one is abuse in a crisis the other is like asking the fire dept. to help b/c your cat is stuck in a tree which is perfectly ok
also chaveirim needs to define their role a lot clearer or they cant blame any one how is one to know what chessed they do provide and which ones they dont? if their my chaver i ask for help if its for specifics only (like hatzalah) ill call just for those things. and to constantly complain about the abuse they receive is abuse of the public
#5 chaverim not the police. Read again
Maskim to #12
There is a fix to these phone call problems and it’s very simple and it’s always being used. I personally have experienced the solution numerous times. The town officials need to look at some of the simple solutions that are out and being used by others. I know of a few fixes but nobody ever wants to listen to them and they sit around and laugh and say it would never happen here in Lakewood. Oh well, one day people will start to listen and remember who says what and start to use the resources that are close to them.
Agree with #10 & #12. Is Chaverim an emergency service, or are they friends who help? They need to clarify this to the public. There is likely to be a fine line between use and abuse here, unlike hatzala and police which should only be called for serious emergencies. I’m sure that enabling a lot of people to attend the wedding made the Chasan and Kallah very happy, which is a Mitzvah in and of itself.
Its interesting to read this because last year chaveirim was very happy to drive everyone to and from the weddings. This year they were called in to help out with hatzola. They also had alot of their crew getting ppl stuck in their cars on the parkway. That was why they were only doing emergency calls this blizzard. They were honest and told the callers out right about this.
Thank you to all the amazing volunteers, especially those whom worked till way into the wee hours of the morning. A shout out to those who worked literally until their cars could barely go, and actually put up their passengers in their homes.
that one about the cat boy from walmart was hillarious.
i’m sure this was intended as a prank call?
have you ever heard of a yiddishe mama letting her yingel be a cart boy at walmart
NPGS cartboys are more distinguished obviously
Please to everyone knocking chaverim no one else was out there like they were during this storm giving hours of their time and money! and people have the audacity to say well they are friends they should help bring people to weddings did you look out your window sunday night and see what was going on! people needing medicine and doctors were calling left and right so they should ignore those people and go help some idiot who went out on monday in his little car while being illegal and got stuck! claiming he needed food! only chaverim can help people he couldn’t ask a neighbor!? Whats wrong with people!? Chaverim ran around without any compensation spending hundreds of their own dollars on gas for their suvs and you knock them for not driving enough people to the weddings and for trying to help people in real need! WOW you people need a lesson in hakaras hatov, Chaverim owes Lakewood NOTHING! not even explanations they are there all the time for people so maybe people forgot THEY ARE DOING YOU THE FAVOR! not you to them. So stop compaining about them! and maybe even send them some money instead!
If My Dispatcher sent out the call then it was urgent we are more then happy to help get people to and from weddings unless there are more urgent calls that we had to respond to like over 10 childbirth transports…………..
to #9 ma nishtana
if you dont know the difference in calls i understand. however, one should know the difference between a crisis and normal period.
so if you dont know the difference between apples and oranges i think you are eligible for another refill, so relax and enjoy.
#19 first of all no one is knocking chaverim. But what gives anyone the right to say that people abused chaverim by asking for rides to a chasuna,if they had more important calls they should and DID say so. Secondly u said “chaverim owes Lakewood nothing” well that’s were u made a left turn, chaverim
Is a community org. While we all appreciate what they do. Don’t say they don’t ‘owe’ us anything……what’s that supposed to mean. Kul tuv. And we hope chaverim and the other chesed org. Keep up their great work!! Ps 3 cheers to reb meir Lichtenstein for doing all he could do to get dpw rolling.
to number 22 it’s a community org?! they help the community yes they are not run by the community what exactly does the community of camplainers do for them? i’m not talking about people who actually support and thank them i mean the ones knocking them
User 131.. this is how you talk about a vol. organization that gave away 3 nights of sleep- 4 members trucks -thousands of dollars in PRIVATE gas $ you should be ashamed it is people like you that give chaveirim the problems : stop posting and go shovel your driveway and when you make a wedding may be dont call chaverim for help
Please anyone reading this it is extremely important to donate to chaveirim if not for them i probably would have not had a minyan by my child s wedding thank you to all the members that helped out may hashem repay you all many times.
#23 shame on u for being motza laz on a community. You have no clue who supports them and if they can’t handle “this community of complainers” let them close down and I have yet to see a comment knocking caverim. So like maybe take a chill and YES They are a community org like it or not for THE ENTIRE community
#24 I’m not sure what u r taking so personal. I probably happen to know a lot more about chaverim then you and I am a huge fan. Ill repeat again NO ONE is knocking chaverim. I’m just trying to say that people that callers shouldn’t be called abusing the system just because chaverim was overloaded doing wonderfull things for the community and shlack work for the police department.
#24 u should apologize to user 131 if u read all comments u will c that he is actualy the one promoting using chaverim to give rides to weddings if the r available.
Hmmmm:I think I figured out who called Chaveirim stating “They didn’t plow our road,maybe some guys can plow the road for ME!”
Let’s not forget about our wonderful volunteers at OEM (Office of emergency management) who spent hours and hours along side Chaveirim assisting stranded motorist and transporting medical emergencies as well as doctors. And nurses to hospitals. Kudos to OEM and Chaveirim!
Disgusting! How dare people make conotations that Chaveirim was wrong. They are completely doing Chessed. They don’t get paid, but you are entitled? Everyone is entitled. Entitled to get rides to weddings, entitled to get there driveways cleaned the second snow starts falling. Entitled to get plowed without getting their driveways plowed in (go figure how to do that). I want to let you in on a little secret. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ANYTHING. YOU AREN’T SO SPECIAL THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO GO YOUR WAY. STOP POSTING AND CONTINUALLY SHOWING YOUR HORRIBLE MIDOS AND LACK OF HAKORAS HATOV!
The only abuse is THAT THE POLICE DUMPED ALL THE SNOW ON CHAVARIM!!! Chavarim should get tax $$.
What is everybody thinking? Every organization gets it’s share of callers that expect too much, and everybody TAKES IT IN STRIDE. Chaveirim is a WONDERFUL organization and NOBODY IS DENYING THAT. However, there were tons of stories going around about how wonderful they were, last year they were driving up and down the avenues to take people to a wedding, so it is unfair to castigate people for calling them to see if they could do the same thing this time. I think a flat tire call could be called abuse, you should and could have road service. I think calling bikur cholim to get you dinner cause you are going to the hospital to stay with your sick friend (c’v) is also abuse – you could pack a couple of sandwiches. But PLEASE STOP CURISING EACH OTHER OUT – AGREE TO DISAGREE – or by all means, point out your viewpoint, BUT STOP SPEWING HATRED.
Honestly I don’t think I would have thought to call Chaveirim for a ride to a wedding. I only heard about that from people that were there. I was at one of those weddings, thanx to my son, who I did call and asked him to drive me as he as 4 wheel drive. He gave us his car to get home. By that time chaveirim was no longer taking people as they were too busy. We took a car load and let me tell you it was scarry. So yasherkoach to all those members of chaveirim who did help out with rides. Many people would not have been able to get to the chasunas otherwise and just think how the chosson and kallah would have felt.
So just as a friend of the family thanks to all who helped by giving rides.
would have been nice if all of OEM is activated!!!
to 131::Reason why i am taking it personal you ” i probably know a lot more about Chaveirim……” ————– just a little secret i have been a member for over 5 years YOU PROBABLY DONT ! All we ask after helping Lakewood is please dont offend us may god bless you
to retired fyi most chaverim members are OEM vol.
I can’t believe what I am reading, beating up the volunteers for trying to help! These people should be praised and rewarded for at least doing something beside complain!
only in lakewood. what a shame.
Chaveirim members are great and should all be blessed for the wonderful work they do.
I donate to them and remember them advertising that they can be called to do any favor at any time. If they are receiving an overwhelming amount of calls or if they feel that they are being abused, than they should state their mission statement and guidelines.
Thank you #32. Btw #35 so am I!!
With regard to Chaverim (who are not necessarily an emergency sevice) I think it’s abuse only if the callers do not take no for an answer. If they are insistent, then that’s abuse.
I have been helped by chaveirim several times and find them to be very big baalei chesed. They do not owe anyonone anything. Using them as a car service for anything other than a medical urgency, especially during a storm, In my opinion is wrong. Only having 60 guests at a chasuna is not an emergency. I was at several small chasunas and the Chosson/Kallah still danced, and have remained happily married for many years now. People need to stop acting like spoiled brats who think that they have everything coming to them. Did these people try to drive their own cars to the wedding before burdoning others??
I guess Chaverim made it to the major league of Klal work, but they must learn that part of being involved in working with/for the Klal, you always get complaints and you should never expect a thank you, it’s unfortunate but it’s the truth.
To the Tzadikim at Chaverim and our brothers who use their services.
While the ultimate Baal Chesed does so without asking questions, perhaps if you were to implement a few basic guidelines.all might benefit. Maybe Chaverim should ask of all residents to purchase any of the annual automotive services out there that function like AAA but have quicker response times. You can get them for about $50.00 a year. Does it make sense that A Tzadik from Chaveirim should respond to a call of the nature that these companies are equipped to handle? certainly ,there are things that only Chaveirim offer.
However, if its an ordinary vehicle related problem – it doesnt seem to add up that Chaveirm should volunteer of their time and money when its so easily accesible to all for a minimal annual fee. Chaverim should post this and make it clear that they love to help their fellow jew in a case that it is actually needed and not when its unnecessary.
This would alleviate and lessen the load for these tremendous and selfless individuals. The dispatcher should also ask the person thats calling for help if they have purchased this annual plan and make it clear that it should be done immediately.
Obviusly there are always extenuating circumstances but that doesnt change the basic concept.Please ask your fellow chaverim friend what he thinks about it.
Many of the above remarks are sensible, but ought to be expressed more respectfully. Yes, Chaveirim doesn’t owe anyone anything; yes, they would drive people to chasunos to be mesamayach, if available; yes, they don’t do only medical emergencies but they do prioritize; yes, we all owe them tons of hakoras hatov; and, yes, not everyone who calls can be expected to be a rocket scientist or understand the entire picture. And #42 noone was SUPPOSED to be out driving without proper authorization and appropriate vehicles. Trying to drive only to get stuck was NOT advisable.
Dear TLS: Can you please try in the future to clearly distinguish between things while reporting. For example- when writing about how organizations being abused,it would be prudent to not group all organizations into one collective group. A group like Chaverim which stems out of true Ahavas Yisroel, that is a jewish trait that Hashem gave us, and we work on, should never be grouped together with a paid law enforcement group, as the difference between the idea of these two groups is tremendous and needs no explaining.
On that note- being a frum website (which is a bit ,if not alot of an oxymoron) maybe it should always be made clear, the distinction of the jewish nation and other nations as that is something that is becoming quite common to jumble together the two. That goes for articles,pictures,etc. For example when quoting city officials, you can have a sentence saying what the Police chief said.You can have another quote from a frum person about the same topic without seeming that there is no difference at all between the two people.
We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our brothers to make the distinction clear.
It can be done without compromising journalistic integrity if thats what you are worried about and in a respectful manner so as not to offnd anyone.
reading these posts i dont see even one post denagrating the selfless volenteers of chaveirim all i hear is people pointing out that they need clear guide lines for the public to understand them to me that point seems valid
19. U are absolutely right. These people are there for us and we do nothing or just about nothing to compensate. And they owe us nothing. We should only be grateful for what they do do for us!
& to 22. Incorrect!! If you really think people are NOT ripping apart chaveirim than you probably can’t read…. When you pay chaveirim their well deserved compensation for vehicles gas and accessories
, you can tell them how to operate, until then close your mouth!
you know whats abuse? abuse is the township cleaning (moderated) driveway and yard while the rest of lakewood is stuck in the snow
As a hatzoola member for numerous years, I can count on my fingers how often I
Was personally thanked afterwards. Chesed is a Thankless job- we do what we do for the mitzva (most of us anyways) and not the glory.
However, an Org like Chaveirim has no excuse on a regular tuesday sunny morning to not send anyone to help a fellow yid with a boost- no return phone calls, no show-
Please keep that in mind when you send out your envelopes this year.
A mission statement or membership wouldn’t hurt-
I don’t believe the post office story: As far as Chaveirim is concerned: Chaveirim means a friend you can count on. 0they are really good people . If they didn’t want to help people during a blizzard they wouldve made that clear . But they are great. They know what a mitzvah it is to b misameach chosin Vkallah, I know of one Chaverim member who shuttled people all night and hosted 20 people at his home. Mi K’amcha yisrael. As opposed to the Police dept. This is our job and here’s where we draw the line. Big Difference. Oilem Haboh IZ a gutta Zach.
There are 2 things you can’t buy for any money in the world..
Mazel
and..Sechel..
some people have it..others don’t.
Chaverim is the best. it shouldn’t be a topic of discussion. I once waited an hour for chaverim when i ran out of gas. but you know what if not for them I would have had to walk to a gas station which may or may not have had a gas can and my car had died in middle of the clifton avenue. so chaverim are friends providing help . they arrive when they arrive, they do what they can. are we really critisizing a orginization that just helps people all day?!?
#45 your point is well taken.
For all the people like me, who are complaining about Chaverim, don’t listen to the people who say that you should get a refill. It won’t help. based on my experience, people like usneed intense therapy; the meds will only serve as a bandaid. you see, for other people Chaverim is an organization comprised of selfless individuals who give up their time and money to help others who have never done anything for them. They simply do it out of the goodness of their hearts. that’s for other people. However, for depressed people like us, who go through life with a sense of entitlement because we are doubtful of our ability to earn anything and when others do us a favor, it reminds us of our hopelessness, for us, Chaverim owes it!
to #50 ur an HATZOLAH (Hatzoloh-Hatzalah)member like im the king of England. b/c if you were u would know how to spell the name of the org you belong to “As a hatzoola member for numerous years”. Let me say to the holly brothers of Chaverim ASHRACHA may the one who truly pays back pay you back 10 fold. Keep up the good work . don’t let the small minded who only can think about the 4 feet that are in front of them get to you.