Karen Robair (Shalom Shuk Superstar) Cancer Fund
Donation protected
2020 hasn’t been a good year for anyone. For Karen Robair, it’s been even tougher. A selfless lifelong Burlington resident, mother, and volunteer, Karen was recently diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. To say it’s bad would be an understatement.
Karen is known throughout Burlington as the manager of Shalom Shuk, or the Marketplace of Peace, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue’s thrift shop serving the local community and dedicated to helping new Americans and the underprivileged. Karen goes above and beyond in this role; picking up clothes from around the city, reaching out to folks in need, making care packages and knowing her regulars by name. Shalom Shuk is a lovely, welcoming place to shop because Karen has made it so.
Karen and her husband, Gary, have raised six kids between the two of them, with two young ones still at home. Coaching baseball, volunteering as Silent Angels and assisting with various nonprofits around Burlington, both are known for their generosity and friendliness. Born in Burlington, Karen studied Business Management at Champlain College and started at Shalom Shuk in 2015.
“I am looking at 6 months at least before I can return to my beloved store,” says Karen. Diagnosed with aggressive urothelial carcinoma stage 3 cancer, she’ll be doing six rounds of chemo followed by an intrusive 14 hour surgery. Karen will have life long complications from the cancer. “Getting sick,” she says, “is not for the poor.” Considering some of the medicine she has to take is $980, that’s no exaggeration.
All funds will go to support Karen and her family at this time of uncertainty. So far, there have been complications with receiving disability, so times have been doubly difficult.
Finally, Karen would like to remind everyone to please continue to shop and donate to Shalom Shuk! Her family is really stepping up to make sure the shop is still running, serving customers and ensuring everyone has access to warm clothes and other necessities.
Many thanks to everyone.
Karen is known throughout Burlington as the manager of Shalom Shuk, or the Marketplace of Peace, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue’s thrift shop serving the local community and dedicated to helping new Americans and the underprivileged. Karen goes above and beyond in this role; picking up clothes from around the city, reaching out to folks in need, making care packages and knowing her regulars by name. Shalom Shuk is a lovely, welcoming place to shop because Karen has made it so.
Karen and her husband, Gary, have raised six kids between the two of them, with two young ones still at home. Coaching baseball, volunteering as Silent Angels and assisting with various nonprofits around Burlington, both are known for their generosity and friendliness. Born in Burlington, Karen studied Business Management at Champlain College and started at Shalom Shuk in 2015.
“I am looking at 6 months at least before I can return to my beloved store,” says Karen. Diagnosed with aggressive urothelial carcinoma stage 3 cancer, she’ll be doing six rounds of chemo followed by an intrusive 14 hour surgery. Karen will have life long complications from the cancer. “Getting sick,” she says, “is not for the poor.” Considering some of the medicine she has to take is $980, that’s no exaggeration.
All funds will go to support Karen and her family at this time of uncertainty. So far, there have been complications with receiving disability, so times have been doubly difficult.
Finally, Karen would like to remind everyone to please continue to shop and donate to Shalom Shuk! Her family is really stepping up to make sure the shop is still running, serving customers and ensuring everyone has access to warm clothes and other necessities.
Many thanks to everyone.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mellisa Cain
Organizer
Burlington, VT
Karen Robair
Beneficiary