"ROOMS of HOPE" continues to help in rebuilding

"ROOMS of HOPE" vouchers for sheetrock and supplies were given to two homeowners as only part of a much bigger plan as a large volunteer skilled labor workforce came to Schoharie on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.  Tom DiNapoli, NY State Comptroller, was there to lend a hand in the rebuilding and coordinating the volunteers from the "Building and Construction Trades Council".  Josh DeBartolo, Volunteer Coordinator for Schoharie Recovery, introduced Mr. DiNapoli before the YNN news reporters began filming the work being done on Saturday.  A great turnout of help in a much needed area.  Read and see more...

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"ROOMS of HOPE" Recipients begin rebuilding

    It has been encouraging to see the rebuilding begin in the valley.  It seems there are people at every stage of recovery, from just now gutting and mucking their homes to putting in insulation and putting up sheetrock, to finishing rooms that are livable again. 

    Fields of Grace is rounding the 100 "ROOMS of HOPE" mark with funds available for another 100!  If you  know of anyone in need of sheetrock, please encourage your friends and neighbors impacted by the flood to complete a voucher for free sheetrock and supplies.  Applications can be downloaded from this site (scroll down to the right), pick one up at the Schoharie Recovery Center at the Reformed Church in Schoharie, or contact us and we'll get that voucher to you shortly. 

    All supplies are waiting at Bush Lumber in Middleburgh. Pick them up or they will gladly deliver to you.

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TEAM of FRIENDS HELP REBUILD

A team of friends, Pres. Peter DeBartolo, Vice Pres. Jim Merritt, Dennis Gibbs, Jim Cornell, and Volunteer Coordinator Josh DeBartolo, recently helped rebuild a room for a family in Schoharie.  We are so thankful that we were able to provide, not only the sheetrock and supplies through the many generous donations to the "ROOMS of HOPE" initiative, but also the manpower to help get the family on the road to recovery.

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One Youth's Perspective on the Flooded Valley

The Field of Dust

I walk across a field of dust

That once was lush and green

With oiled ground as red as rust

I wish it was a dream

The crops are sculptures

made of sand

Curved downward like a bow

Their leaves crumble in my hand

Their coating falls like snow.

The field of dust holds empty shells

Of memories now long gone

Replaced with that of screams and yells

That lasted until dawn

Debris is the new crop of the field

Piled in large mounds

The trees are dead, their bark is peeled

Toys buried in the ground

As I walk across this field of dust

I woke up from my dream

I look outside and see only just

The field I had just seen

                                                     by Seth S. (age 14)

Fields of Grace receives $10,000 IBM Community Impact Grant and $5000 IBM Community Grant to aid in Flood Recovery

Fields of Grace Outreach is excited to announce that we have received an IBM Community Impact Grant for $10,000 which is designated for equipment to help in responding quicker to such disasters as the recent flooding in upstate New York and to help implement the recovery programs.  The organization has also received this week another $5000 Community Grant to aid in the "ROOMS of HOPE" initiative and other building materials.

We are tremendously grateful to IBM and especially to Rick Rizzolo for helping to secure this wonderful grant.  Rick has been volunteering in Schoharie County over the past months and has been bring other IBMers from the Poughkeepsie area where they work for IBM.

We are also thankful to IBM for supporting and encouraging their employees in their volunteer efforts.

WATCH this heartfelt video put together by Josh DeBartolo who has been organizing teams of volunteers and gutting and mucking homes since the first week after the catastrophic flooding in Schoharie County.

Schoharie Valley.  Top photo in early spring 2011 by Seth DeBartolo. Bottom photo the day after Hurricane Irene by Grace Barber.