Industry call for help from Jewels of Java

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 10/4/2011 10:00:57 AM

Barbara Simeon, business manager for Jewels of Java, wrote the following message requesting help for Tropical Storm Lee flood victims in the New York-Pennsylvania border region:

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Jewels of Java is located in a small town along the banks of the Susquehanna River on the New York and Pennsylvania border. On Sept. 7, 2011, Tropical Storm Lee moved into the region only one week after Hurricane Irene passed through. It rained for the better part of three days, and since the ground was already saturated, we experienced flash-flooding of streams, and eventually the river flooded throughout the entire region.

Severe damage was left in many neighborhoods along the banks of the river and local streams. A month later, a stretch of 40 miles from Nichols in the West to Conklin in the East has countless businesses that remain closed or relocated. Many hundreds of homes remain uninhabitable or completely destroyed. One neighborhood, known as Twin Orchards (located in Vestal), was completely under water for almost a week. This area was home to our warehouse manager, Sean King, and his fiancée Desiree. The young couple has only lived there for two years and lost everything. The mother of another employee also had her home completely destroyed in the same neighborhood. It's such a small town it is hard to find someone who has not been directly affected or has a family member directly affected.

We are members of First Presbyterian Church in Endicott. Our church has supported similar disaster missions in the Outer Banks of the Carolinas, in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, and in Conklin, N.Y., following a local flood in 2006. We are well-prepared in this type of relief but never thought we would need those skills in our own homes and friend's homes. Shortages of supplies locally require that we go out of town for needed supplies or pay for expedited shipping via the internet. The church sends teams of 20-100 people out into homes in the hardest-hit neighborhoods six days a week. The church provides meals daily for relief works and flood victims as well as housing for relief works from out of town. It is a huge effort and much help is needed.

To donate directly to flood relief efforts, you can send donations to First Presbyterian Church of Endicott or American Red Cross. If you decide to donate, please note "flood relief" in the check memo.

First Presbyterian Church of Endicott
29 Grant Ave.
Endicott, NY 13760

American Red Cross
Southern Tier Flood Relief (note on check)
620 East Main St.
Endicott, NY 13760