A Labor of Love for Frank Storch

A little more than a year ago Frank Storch, a safety expert from Baltimore, published a safety guide that has made an impact on schools all around the country. Storch’s 44-page booklet, called “Keep Your School Safe” gives advice and easy to follow instructions on how to upgrade the level of security in schools and other public facilities.

In Frank Storch’s own words “We have to protect the community,” it is easy to see why he worked hard to publish and distribute this guidebook, which was a labor of love. The booklet is available on-line and can be downloaded here: http://www.gowanuslounge.com/idt-energy-social-responsibility/ 

Remembering Hurricane Sandy with Frank Storch

Frank Storch

Frank Storch was in Israel with his wife when he heard that an unusually massive storm was on its way to the eastern seaboard. When he heard that Hurricane Sandy had wreaked unprecedented damage on New Jersey, New York and many other areas, Storch changed his travel plans and hurried home so he could help with the recovery.

When he arrived home to Baltimore, the following happened:

“A member of Hatzalah called, saying he was interested in taking some generators from Baltimore to New York. Instead of bringing just a few generators, I thought, Let’s make a large purchase of generators, gas cans, flashlights, batteries, lanterns—everything the communities would need.
“Home Depot in Baltimore was suspicious of the fact that we wanted to purchase hundreds of generators; they assumed we would be bringing them to New York to resell. I told them to speak with the attorney general of Maryland who knows me personally and could vouch for me. They contacted the attorney general and realized we had truly come to do a good deed. We ended up bringing 120 generators, 250 gas cans and thousands of batteries, flashlights, sump pumps, trash bags and more. With a caravan of four large rented trucks, one mini truck and my four-wheel drive, we left for New York with more than $150,000 worth of emergency equipment.”

With equipment and supplies Frank Storch and other volunteers drove up to New York and distributed he essential supplies, truckloads of clothing, thousands of cans of gasoline, and the life-saving generators. The tragedy of Hurricane Sandy brought out the best in many citizens, with the help of Frank Storch.

Keep Your School Safe: a 44 Page Guide

In a recent article, Frank Storch's Keep Your School Safe guide was discussed. As the article explained,

"He estimates that it took hundreds of hours to write the 44-page “Keep Your School Safe,” which includes checklists of safety and security protocols that ask school officials to score their facilities on a wide variety of security concerns. For example, the guide asks if lockdown procedures are in place in every classroom, whether all interior and exterior doors are designed to close automatically and securely and if teachers are required to carry two-way radios when they’ve taken children outdoors.

The article continued:

"The book also includes a “Bomb Threat Response Checklist”—with suggested questions to ask the caller, such as “Where is the bomb?” and “What does it look like?”—and urges the school to distribute a questionnaire to all staff members to assess how they view the school’s safety procedures. In addition, it provides a list of websites for resources such as the Department of Homeland Security and Community Security Service."

The entire article can be found at: 

http://www.jns.org/latest-articles/2013/7/22/security-expert-compiles-new-school-safety-guide-for-the-love-of-the-jewish-people

What Would the World be Like with More “Menches”?

The recent 75th anniversary of the “Night of Broken Glass,” which took place on November 9-10, 1938

Frank Storch

inspired one Jewish commentator to wonder, “What would the world be like if people of faith raised ‘menches’? Rabbi Elan Adler was talking about “Kristallnacht,” the fateful night when German gangs of Hitler Youth, and others, joined together to break the glass windows of Jewish shops, in addition to setting fire to them and to synagogues, homes, and murdering 91 people.

Rabbi Adler is the host of “The Derech Eretz” radio talk show. His guests were Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf and Frank Storch, both of Baltimore, and both men the Rabbi Adler includes in the term “mench” which means to be an upright person with integrity and sympathy. As an example of how Frank Storch and Rabbi Apisdorf manifest these qualities, Rabbi Adler referred to the work they both do on behalf of the homeless and the technological aid they brought to the victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York.

Rabbi Adler thought perhaps in a world where children are raised to have “derech eretz” and a conscience, events like Kristallnacht would not happen.

ADL Praises Frank Storch and His Safety Guide

Frank Storch, Baltimore expert on security, wrote a booklet that is simple to use for schools and other communal spaces. He especially focused on presenting inexpensive but effective ideas for boosting security.

The Anti-Defamation League, which also distributes their own guide to security, was impressed with Frank Storch’s guide, which is called, “Keep Your School Safe.”

“We think it’s a useful resource and a welcome complement to our materials,” said Elise Jarvis, Associate Director for Law Enforcement Outreach and Communal Security at the ADL.

Frank Storch

Frank Storch Discusses Tikun Olam

Taking inspiration from his father, Frank Storch

Frank Storch

wrote the following last August in an article found in the Jewish Times of Baltimore. Here is a quote from that article:

“I take tremendous inspiration from my father, O”BM, M. Leo Storch. He lived and breathed the message of tikkun olam.  My father lived his life with a mission of sanctifying the name of God.  He was filled with integrity and always chose to do more than just “the right thing.”  When a buyer for a building lot was unable to continue making payments my father told him “if you can’t use my lot I can’t use your payments” and returned every previous monthly payment to him.  When county building codes were not adequate enough to ensure long-term safety and stability for a building, my father would go above and beyond what was required at his own expense.   As a real estate owner, his tenants always knew that if they couldn’t pay the rent in time, my father would do what he could to extend the time in order to keep them in business. On many occasions, he would fund businesses to get them on their feet. My father went as far as borrowing money to donate to charitable causes that were in dire need of financial assistance.”

Philanthropy a Tradition in Frank Storch Family

Frank Storch learned the importance
of giving from his mother Hannah

Frank Storch, Baltimore-based philanthropist, is an apple that did not fall far from the tree. Hannah and Leo Storch were key players in the Baltimore Jewish community during the 18 years of their marriage. Leo was the founder of the Baltimore “Vaad of Kashrut” now known at the Star-K. Mr. Storch also was the president of the Bais Yaakov School for Girls, in addition to other pivotal roles he played in the community.

Unfortunately Leo passed away in 1972, but that did not stop Hannah, his widow, from running with the ball of support, help and good deeds for her fellow Jews in Baltimore.

Frank Storch explained what a privilege it was to grow up and learn from his parents. He said that even though they were both incredibly busy people, their children received nothing but “Love, time and attention from our very generous mother.”

“We learned the importance of community service, volunteer work and charitable contributions. We learned the importance of listening to the needs of the community and of acting to fulfill those needs,” Frank Storch added.