The flood that ravaged the Southern Tier of New York State this past week has turned schools into shelters, parking lots into lakes and displaced thousands from their homes. The area has received national attention and federal aid over the past week, and although the water is receding, the damage — both physical and psychological — remains.
While Binghamton University’s campus was largely unaffected by the physical damage of the storm, a good portion of Binghamton’s residents — including students, staff and faculty — have lost their homes and their belongings.
Flood shelters and donation centers have opened all throughout the greater Binghamton area. They are in need of supplies and help, calling upon BU students for assistance. It is time to give back to the city that has given us so much.
There are a number of ways to become involved in the relief effort. With just a quick walk across campus to the Events Center, which housed 1,700 evacuees at the peak of the flooding, students can register with the Red Cross to volunteer for working shifts. Students have been volunteering in the Events Center since late last week, and the shelter is still in need of student volunteers.
Camille Adolphe, an undeclared sophomore, walked to the Events Center to assist with the relief effort at her first available opportunity.
“I went with my friends on the first morning we didn’t have class,” Adolphe said. “We went to the volunteer desk and asked if they needed any help and they said, ‘No we’re all full, come back tomorrow.'”
Still, Adolphe did not take no for an answer.
“We really wanted to do something to help,” she said. “So we said OK and we left the table and when they weren’t looking we went downstairs to the main level. We asked a bunch of Red Cross workers and other BU volunteers if they needed help and they said they did, so we were happy we went down.”
Adolphe and her friends spent three or four hours handing out books for evacuees and serving dinner.
“We tried to keep them entertained for the time being and just take their mind off things,” Adolphe said.
Jennifer Brogna, a sophomore majoring in linguistics, also visited the Events Center over the weekend.
“I just went to the Events Center and signed up for the Saturday morning shift,” Brogna said. “I signed up to help with food. At first I helped hand out breakfast for the evacuees but then I was moved to the kitchen. There, me and three other volunteers sliced, plated and wrapped up watermelon for later on in the day.”
In addition to the BU Events Center, the local Salvation Army, located Downtown on Washington Street, is also in need of volunteers. Also, The United Way of Broome County is accepting monetary donations and several churches and community centers in the area, such as The First Baptist Church of Johnson City, are accepting donations of non-perishable foods, clothing, cleaning supplies and toiletries.
The Binghamton University office of Financial Aid and Student Records, located in Student Wing room 119, is accepting donations of non-perishable food for the local food pantry. Several residence communities on campus have also developed their own outreach program and are collecting donations.
The BU Center for Civic Engagement is accepting donations of toiletries and personal care products for evacuees to their office in room 145 in the Old University Union. They are working to put together a website featuring the latest in flood recovery efforts and volunteer efforts, and will send out a weekly e-newsletter to those who are interested in volunteering and registered online at www.binghamton.edu/cce.
Local media outlets WSKG, WBNG, WICZ, News Channel 34, Bing Spot, Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, Magic 101.7, Equinox Broadcasting Corporation, ClearChannel Radio and YNN have banded together to create the Local Broadcasters Flood Relief 2011 telethon. Monetary donations can be made by calling (877) 975-9754. More than $100,000 has been raised thus far.
The American Red Cross, on the ground in Binghamton and at the forefront of the relief effort, is also asking for monetary donations. By texting 90999, a $10 donation will be made for Binghamton flood victims. Donations can also be made by calling 1 (800) RED-CROSS or logging on to www.redcross.org.
Although you may have embraced the days off from school, realize that the flood has affected thousands, including some people you may interact with on a daily basis. It has impacted friends, teachers and neighbors.
“It was really, really disheartening,” Adolphe said of her time at the Events Center. “I’ve seen some Sodexo workers and one of my cab drivers in there with their families. And that’s when it hit me that it’s reality for a lot of different people.”
Don’t forget when volunteering for others to also take care of yourself. The University Counseling Center is offering help for students and student volunteers who have been particularly affected by the flood and its aftermath.