By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
Editor’s Note: A hurricane is certainly not good news, but when local residents give of themselves to help those in need, that is most assuredly a GOOD NEWS! story. Here is the story of Savannah Ballou, who is working to help people thousands of miles away in the aftermath of a massive and destructive storm.
RAVENA — If you’ve ever seen images of the devastating impact of a major hurricane and wondered if there was a way you could pitch in and help through a local source, now there is.
Village resident Savannah Ballou is spearheading a supply drive to help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico ravaged by Hurricane Fiona. And she may extend her efforts to help Florida residents in the wake of Hurricane Ian.
The massive storm that struck Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, in mid-September washed out bridges and roads, caused huge amounts of flooding with entire communities under water, and left more than a million people without power — with hundreds of thousands still without power at press time.
Some areas of Puerto Rico reportedly got over 30 inches of rain.
Just days after the storm hit, Ballou, who has lived in the village her entire life, set the wheels in motion to collect supplies like diapers, water and non-perishable food to help the island where she has family and friends.
Ballou went before the village board at its September meeting to ask for permission to hold a supply drive throughout the community.
“I just want to help — my only goal is to help, whether it is here in town or in Albany County or in Puerto Rico,” Ballou said.
Ballou has worked with local stores and organizations to post donation boxes around the village to collect items that are desperately needed in areas hard hit by the storm.
“My goal is to send one to a shelter, one to a hospital, one to a school and one to a family that can distribute within their area,” Ballou said. “It is something I have always wanted to do but have never been able to do. Now, because of how much has happened with Hurricane Fiona, I really want to do something to help this community.”
The village board agreed and offered to put up a donation box at the village hall and at the mayor’s business, the Halfway House Tavern.
“We will gladly help,” Mayor Bill Misuraca said. “We will make this happen.”
Other locations have also agreed to put up a donation box.
“This project means a lot to me,” Ballou said. “Puerto Rico is my second home. I would visit every summer as a child.”
She recalled painful memories of another storm that caused enormous damage on the island, Hurricane Maria in 2017, when her family also suffered a personal tragedy just days before that storm.
“I lost my grandfather three days before Hurricane Maria. Knowing my family was not only grieving the loss of him, but also suffering from Maria,” Ballou said. “I know many of us in town have family in Puerto Rico, traveled and created memories there. All I want to do is help those in need and I appreciate each person that has helped donate.”
Deputy Mayor Nancy Warner said the devastation has touched many hearts in the community.
“You are not the only family in our village that has family in Puerto Rico, so I think this is great not only for your family, but for anyone else that we can touch,” Warner told Ballou at the meeting. “I am really glad you reached out.”
The donation boxes will be posted around the village through Oct. 8. Ballou has already begun packaging up donations to ship to Puerto Rico. On Saturday, a box at the Shop ‘n’ Save supermarket on Route 9W was already filled with donations.
Boxes are also located at Ravena Village Hall, 15 Mountain Road; RCS Community Library, 95 Main Street; Halfway House Tavern, 26 Main Street; and National Bank of Coxsackie, 20 Faith Plaza.
The box at the bank may be designated to help victims in Florida who suffered tremendous damage due to Hurricane Ian, which struck last week, but that arrangement had not yet been finalized at press time.
All supplies that are donated will be shipped to families, shelters, schools and hospitals that will distribute the goods to those in need. Suggested donation items include, but are not limited to, diapers, baby wipes, canned food, garbage bags, towels, pet food, toiletries, feminine products, blankets, pillows, bottled water, hand sanitizer, towels, and board games and coloring books for the children.
ALBANY — Students ages 5 to 11 who get the COVID-19 vaccine have the chance to win a free college education.
“Vaccinations were the key to a more normal academic and campus experience throughout SUNY,” Malatras said. “Now that even younger individuals have an approved vaccine option, this is another huge step to seeing the finish line of this pandemic, and we must continue to do all we can to encourage everyone to get their shot.”
