Hurricane Irene Response - Helping Our Neighbors in Need!

A note from  a neighbor...

After church Sunday at Emmanuel Reformed, we discussed what we could do to help those in nearby areas so drastically affected by Irene. I called the volunteer relief team in Schoharie and it was decided we would bring bag lunches.  We mobilized our church family at the last minute and had them meet us at church Monday evening with the makings of  bag lunches.  Donors were so generous ! Tuesday morning 5 of us "lunch Ladies" and 2 of the men headed out.  No matter what you've seen on TV, the reality of the disaster is so much greater!  The village is in ruins.  What once was a pretty little Main Street with hanging baskets on the light posts, is now a muddy mess of destruction.

 

Home Depot Gift Cards 

Streets are mired in mud and the contaminated air irritates your throat.  Rather than leave the lunches at the meal tent, we decided to bring them door to door as most of the residents didn't want to leave their homes, or what is left of them. You could see the water line which was over the first floor in many cases.  Their belongings were out on the curb waiting their turn to be picked up by the the loader and dump truck.  So much of their lives gone!  These people were in their houses working in the dark, ripping out walls and floors.  While we were delivering lunches the men with us were helping to rip apart the floors and walls of a man's house. Other church members  are going on their own to offer whatever help they can. The whole village has no electricity and there are port-a-johns on the corners and lined up along Main Street as they don't even have bathroom facilities!  We would walk up to the door (or where the door used to be) and yell "anybody want lunch" and they would take our bag with a thank you and a smile on their face.  A smile on their face, when they have little to smile about!  We distributed our 50 bags right away, and luckily had brought additional "makings" in coolers and made 50-some more lunches.  One man told me that he was never an emotional person, but was brought to tears at the overwhelming help and support of so many strangers since this had happened.  We also were overwhelmed, and so will continue to go back to Schoharie with our bag lunch program as long as we can.  Although these people have almost nothing (food, linens, furniture, etc) they have no house to put these things in, that need will come later when they can get back in their homes.  Many of the homes are condemned as the foundations or part of them were washed away.  This is going to be a long process, and as time goes on, their needs will change.  I can't stress this enough ....They Need Help!!!

We were told one thing that would be very helpful is gift cards to Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart.  I'm asking everyone I know to donate these in denominations of not more than $25 and if you  feel you want to donate, and can get the cards to me I will bring them to the Disaster Relief Team in Schoharie that we are working with who will distribute the cards. Money towards gift cards would also be great and we can put it together to buy cards.  Money to buy lunch items for our bag lunches is also welcome.  As much as the people of our church have been generous in our initial effort, we can fill in the gaps in the future to continue this.

I didn't even lose my electricity in this storm, and so felt compelled to reach out to those who lost so much.  I hope I can count on you to assist  in this effort.  If you have any questions please call me at 477-4720.  I also have a list of organizations and shelters if you would like to contact any of them to offer your help or assistance directly.