We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this very important announcement. Earlier this week, torrential rains caused massive flooding in my hometown of Penn Yan, New York. While things have been damaged and destroyed, no one was injured and no lives were lost, and the spirit of the amazing people who live in PY endures. While the pictures and videos are heartbreaking, the stories of the town and surrounding communities pulling together to clean up, dig out, and rebuild are tremendous.
From the Penn Yan Diner Facebook page.
Here’s an update from the Arts Center of Yates County:
On a positive note we’re happy to report that (not surprisingly) our community members are responding to this crisis with compassion, generosity and determination. Penn Yan schools have been canceled for the last two days and crowds of teens have been helping empty basements in the area. Reports say that several teams scheduled to play Academy teams yesterday bused their players to Penn Yan to help with the clean up. Keuka College students are taking shifts between studying for exams to lend a hand. There are signs for free food and water offered to volunteers throughout the village.
Okay, bottom line: What can you do to help? If you are local, you can pick up a shovel, drop off water and food, lend a helping hand where it’s needed. If you aren’t local, there are a bunch of Go Fund Me sites up and running where you can donate to help rebuild in the 14527:
Photo by Spencer Tulis, Finger Lakes Times.
And this comes from the local paper, The Chronicle Express:
To make a donation that will be specifically directed to Penn Yan area flood relief, you can call the Development office at the Rochester office of American Red Cross. The numbers there are 585-241-4421 or 585-241-4420.
There’s a lot of good information on the Flood Relief for Penn Yan & Branchport Facebook page, too.
If you can give, please give. My hometown will come through this better and stronger than ever, but it sure can use some help along the way. Thank you!
Update: The Arc of Yates, which has been a huge part of my family’s life for the past forty years, was destroyed by the floods. They need a lot of money to rebuild. You can donate here.
