Volunteers set to aid Schoharie recovery

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June 8, 2012

Volunteers set to aid Schoharie recovery

Anonymous Staff Report The Daily Star Fri Jun 08, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

Recovery efforts in the Schoharie area will be boosted through two upcoming programs that will bring volunteers to the area to help rebuild, according to media releases from the Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery group, or SALT.

Volunteers from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee are expected to travel to the Schoharie area in July to begin work rebuilding homes damaged in last year's flooding.

An advance team is expected this month to prepare housing for the CRWRC's reconstruction teams. An estimator will also be in the area to work on estimates and plans for homes that will be rebuilt.

Households are being selected based on need and their ability to have materials available. The "green shirt" reconstruction teams will bring in skilled volunteer labor, but all materials for the projects must be supplied and on-site before any work begins.

Volunteers are expected to start arriving in July, and SALT anticipates that these teams will work in the Schoharie Creek Basin area through the end of October.

To be considered for re-construction, households must have completed an unmet needs assessment survey and be registered in the SALT unmet needs system. More information is available from the SALT office at (518) 702-5017.

In addition, SALT applied for a grant through the Corporation for National and Community Services.

According to a release, CNCS helps organizations implement projects or ideas that require special funding or assistance, and provides volunteer assistance through programs and grants. The application was accepted in March, and SALT was granted funding for 15 VISTA workers and a supervisor through VISTA Americorp.

Volunteers In Service To America members work with nonprofit organizations or government agencies to create and/or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTA members generally do not provide direct services, but help build the organizational, administrative and financial capacity of organizations.

VISTA will be working with SALT on six categories: events coordinator; grant writing and community development; donations coordination and distribution; agricultural based business and community development; business and community development; and volunteer and resource coordination.

SALT will be canvassing in and around Schoharie County for people willing to meet the requirements of these positions. Information on how to apply for a VISTA position will be forthcoming on the SALT website at www.saltrecovery.org.