COLUMBUS, Ohio — Typically when a home is filled with stuffed boxes and bags, you might think a family is preparing for a move. But the Buren household is preparing for a mission.
"Being here so far away from the conflict made me feel almost useless,” Jeff Buren, a Columbus resident, said.
Jeff and his wife Meagan said they felt compelled to go beyond donating money to help Columbus residents who were called back to Israel to serve in its defense forces. Jeff decided the only way for him to help is to go.
"I feel like its my job to show up and lend a hand,” Jeff said.
When the community caught wind of this effort, they joined in. On Sunday, dozens of neighbors and friends got together in their home bringing supplies and packing bags for Jeff’s trip. That support only continued on Monday.
"We actually have close friends and community members whose sons and daughters are serving in the army or have been called up to serve in the army and so these things will go directly to the people that need them,” Meagan said.
While Meagan works out the logistics of the trip and coordinating volunteers along the way, Jeff will head to Miami Monday night in a loaded U-Haul truck. From there, he will then fly to Israel with all of the supplies in tow.
"There is a little bit of fear sort of deep down I mean right now I'm very far away from it, but there is no hesitancy,” Jeff said.
The father of three said while some loved ones are concerned for his safety as he heads into a warzone, he has also received a lot of support for his decision to go
"To see the damage and destruction and to know what the further fall out will be for people on both sides of the border is disheartening,” Jeff said.
Jeff added that having to watch the catastrophe unfold in Israel has been unbearable.
"Its because those missiles are falling, frankly, that I feel like I'm going,” Jeff said.