Stranded but not left out in the cold

When Esti and Alan Stahler awoke on the morning of Dec. 27, they never dreamed they would have 100 college-age students passing through their home in Lawrence but after receiving a call from the Wolfson family, also of Lawrence, that’s exactly what happened.

“My husband and I got a call saying that over 300 students were stranded at Kennedy airport,” Esti said. “The students had already been at the airport for 12 to 15 hours and it was vital to get them in homes and to bed.”

Upon receiving the phone call, Esti reached out to her sister, who lives on the same block. She and her sister, along with dozens of volunteers, took turns driving to and from the airport bringing students back to their homes in the Five Towns and bringing food to those students who chose to stay at the airport.

The students are from all across the United States, including New York, Washington, D.C., Georgia, California and Florida, and were heading to Israel but because of the Dec. 26-27 blizzard, their flights were delayed.

Once the students arrived at the Stahler home they were given food, beds, showers, toothbrushes, phones and were able to plug in their phone chargers and computers. The families, Brachs of Lawrence, Carlos and Gabby’s and Gourmet Glatt in Cedarhurst provided food to the students.

“The students were overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality by our community,” Esti said. “We turned a tiring experience into a memorable and fun one.”

After their brief detour to the Five Towns the students made it back to the airport and safely to Israel.

“We had a desire to reach out and help,” Esti said. “And I hope that if our children were ever stranded, that they would receive the same care.”