SURFSIDE, Fla. – Friday will mark one year since the Champlain Towers South collapsed in Surfside, killing 98 people.
The community has been grieving since, and town leaders have worked tirelessly to help the families affected most by the disaster.
“We call them regularly, people who have lost family members and homes and tell them that we are there for them,” said Rabbi Zalman Lipskar of the Shul of Bal Harbour. “We continue to help. We help out on a daily basis.”
The Shul of Bal Harbour played a major role in the healing process for the Surfside families.
Throughout the year, the synagogue has been there for them.
Mayor Shlomo Danzinger took office in March and immediately started planning a memorial event to mark one year since the collapse.
“It’s taking a while to heal,” said Danzinger. “We walk past it every day.”
The town continues to try and help the families impacted, and they want to make sure the public memorial marking the year remembrance is powerful and pays tribute to the lives lost.
“When we came into office, there was no plan,” said Danzinger. “It’s been a rush. There’s been great staff, a lot of work is going into this.”
The single message that the town is looking to convey:
“The town of Surfside will never forget,” said Danzinger. “While life has to move on, they won’t be forgotten.”