By ALISON LESTER
Managing Editor
In the weeks following Hurricane Irene’s impact with the Capital Region, many members of the Saint Rose community have been involved with providing aid to local victims through donations and community service. But while events such as Reach Out Saint Rose have ended, where approximately 30 of the about 600 students who participated that day went to Middleburgh to help clean up the remaining debris from the hurricane, the efforts being made by Saint Rose students and faculty members to help those in need are still in progress. The following are some of the ways in which the Saint Rose community is aiding those affected by Hurricane Irene.
The Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary Still Offering Aid
As reported in the Sept. 7 article “Hurricane Irene Causes Damage, Inspires Aid for Local Victims,” Father Chris
DeGiovine, the Dean of Spiritual Life at Saint Rose, created a response committee. Those who were able to donate any of the numerous needed supplies were asked to bring them to the library in the basement of the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary.
Since the Sanctuary’s aid effort began, an overwhelming number of donations have been received, which have been brought to hurricane victims in Cobleskill (specifically the Schoharie and Middleburgh areas), Windham, and Berne by various members of the Saint Rose community. “There was much more than they could even use,” said Joan Horgan, the Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Rose about the large number of supplies that have been donated.
While people from these areas no longer need items such as clothing or food, they are still in need of gift cards, shovels, hammers, and crowbars. DeGiovine said that the Sanctuary will continue collecting donations for local victims of Hurricane Irene “for as long as there is a need for them in the towns and as long as we have people willing to get the donations to the people in need.”
Ken Scott, the Director of Community Service at Saint Rose, said that the impacted areas are in need of workers. Horgan agreed with this sentiment, adding that there are “messy, big jobs that need people.”
MEISA Benefit Show Raises Money for Hurricane Irene Victims
The Saint Rose chapter of MEISA (Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association) presented “A Hurricane Irene Benefit Show” in Jack’s Place in the Center for Communications and Interactive Media. The show, which took place on Thursday, Sept. 22, featured three Saint Rose bands. Route 263 kicked off the show, Between the Arctic played second, and Save the Year played third.
A decent sized crowd came out to watch the three bands who each played several songs while encouraging the audience to participate in donating. A table was set up in front of the entrance of Jack’s Place where donations were accepted.
Krista Harbacz, the Secretary for the Saint Rose chapter of MEISA, came up with the idea to hold the benefit show. She credits her friend Ben Sponable, a resident of Schenectady, for giving her the idea. Sponable knows people whose town was destroyed by the hurricane. “I thought it would be nice to help out,” said Harbacz. “It’s a good cause.”
The doors opened at 6:30 p.m., with the benefit show starting at 7:30 p.m. The event cost three dollars with a Saint Rose ID and seven dollars without to attend. All proceeds from the benefit show went to help out the Rotterdam Junction Volunteer Fire Department.
The Council for Exceptional Children: Community Involvement Committee Collects Needed Items
In response to the Hurricane Irene victims who are still in need, the Community Involvement Committee of Saint Rose’s chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children collected items in the Events & Athletics Center on Monday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They were helped by fifth graders from A.W. Becker Elementary School in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District.
Emily Thomas, a Co-Chair of the Community Involvement Committee for Saint Rose’s chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, came up with the idea to collect items for local victims of Hurricane Irene. “We want to expand our community committee to really be true to its name and involve our entire community,” said Thomas. “So many people, not even just here but in our nearby communities, were affected by this storm. We just want to help out as much as we can.”
It’s the hope of the Community Involvement Committee to make 25 complete health kits from the items they collect. The donations they were seeking included cleaning products, gloves, hair combs, nail clippers, soap, toothbrushes, trash bags, dust masks, clothes pins, clothes lines, and cash donations for more supplies. “The items are going to be collected and given to the First United Methodist Church of Delmar, and from there the kits will be dispersed to local victims,” said Thomas.
While the table collection was on Sept. 26, anyone who would still like to donate items to the Community Involvement Committee to give to the First United Methodist Church of Delmar can contact Thomas by email at thomase801@strose.edu. Donations will be accepted until Oct. 14, when the complete health kits will be brought to the church.
