Saturday, September 3, 2011

How to help those suffering from Hurricane Irene's Destruction


This comes from my local newspaper, The Times Union and some of this information is of course meant for people living in this area.  But, there are also links to where people can donate money and stuff from outside this area.  

Many farmers had their crops totally destroyed.  Many roads and bridges are gone.  Many houses are gone.  

I know the readers of this blog are great people and I'm confident you will offer a helping hand in some way.  Thank you.   

Numerous groups are looking for volunteers to help victims of Tropical Storm Irene this weekend:

-- Old Fort Johnson in Montgomery County needs volunteers on Saturday. Organizers ask that no one come to the site without calling first to register and receive instructions. Contact Lori Rulison, 424-2679 or lorirulison@verizon.net, or Gene Lees, 866-1657 or genebl@verizon.net. Needed are volunteer cleaners, movers, grounds clean-up, caterers and recorder/photographer. To volunteer for a later date, email lorirulison@verizon.net or genebl@verizon.net with your name and phone number. To donate, make your check out to "MCHS" and put "flood relief" on the memo line. Mail to Montgomery County Historical Society, PO Box 196, Fort Johnson NY 12070.

-- United Way is organizing volunteers who are willing to help flood victims clear mud and debris from their homes. Interested volunteers can call 211 or email mmiccio@unitedwaygcr.org. Victims can sign up for cleanup assistance by calling 211.

-- Schenectady ARC, which is acting as a clearinghouse for flood victims, suggests volunteers for Relief Efforts in Rotterdam Junction call Chris Gallo, 214-4010.

Here are some groups c0llecting money and goods:

-- Greene County Department of Emergency Services needs reconstruction equipment such as circular saws, cordless drills, crowbars, hammers, screws, shovels, rubber gloves, work gloves, dust masks, wheelbarrows, extension cords, large fans, etc. Call John P. Farrell, Jr., Emergency Services director, at 622-3643.

-- FarmieMarket.com, the Capital Region's Online Farmers' Market, and All Good Bakers are soliciting donations for the not-for-profit Regional Farm and Food Project. All funds donated will be directly paid to farmers in the greater Capital Region affected by Hurricane Irene. Donated funds will cover operating and reconstruction expenses for farms, and provide stipends to farms that lost significant agricultural product and projected income in the storm. Donations of all sizes are welcome. Donate online at FarmieMarket.com or through the Facebook page "Support local farms damaged by Hurricane Irene."

-- The Schalmont Central School District is collecting children's clothing and backpacks with supplies to help students, particularly those who live in Rotterdam Junction, whose homes were flooded. Money gift cards (American Express, Visa etc.), household items, cleaning supplies, toiletries, first-aid supplies and non-perishable food are also being collected. Drop off donations at Jefferson Elementary School, 100 Princetown Road. For information, call Cori Kinns at 956-0163.

-- The City Mission of Schenectady, 425 Hamilton St., is taking in items for flood victims. Of particular need are items for shelters in Schoharie County such as pet food and supplies, perishable food like fruit and milk, and laundry detergent and dish soap. When dropping off donations, make sure to label items that are specifically for flood victims. Call 346-2275 for more information.

-- The Windham Area Relief Foundation Help started a fund called "Windham Rebuild after Hurricane Irene" to help the Greene County community rebuild. Donate at windhamrebuild.org or send checks to WARF, 61 State Route 296, Windham, NY 12496 and indicate "flood relief" in the memo.

-- The Keene Community Trust has a Keene Flood Recovery Fund at Adirondack Community Trust to assist the people in the flooded Adirondack town. Donate online at http://www.generousact.org/.

-- Price Chopper customers can purchase window signs to show their support for the "Your Help Counts: Irene" campaign. All funds will be directed to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Price Chopper will match the first $10,000 raised.

-- Make donations to the Salvation Army's Empire State Division online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by texting the word "STORM" to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone. For more information, go to http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

-- The American Red Cross is holding four-hour training sessions for "spontaneous volunteers" who want to assist victims of Tropical Storm Irene. Fast-track training sessions will be held at the Nubian Directions Building, 248 Main St., Poughkeepsie, on Thursday and Tuesday. Training sessions run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Only one session is required before volunteers are deployed. Call 458-8111 to register. To donate money, Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or send a check to the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York, 33 Everett Road, Albany, NY 12205. More than 50 blood drives along the East Coast have been canceled because of Hurricane Irene. To donate blood, call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.

-- Author Katherine Messner and The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid are teaming up to restock the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay. To donate a new, hardcover children's book, especially picture books, call the bookstore at 523-2950 to choose a book or order books online at http://www.thebookstoreplus.com. You also can buy a "virtual gift card," charged to your credit card, for the library to purchase books. To send checks or new books directly to the library, the address is Wells Memorial Library, P.O. Box 57, Upper Jay, NY 12987.

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