Hoosick Falls’ Strong Sense Of Community Shines Through At Difficult Times
by Deb Alter
The Hoosick Falls Water Distribution Volunteers is an independent group of individual volunteers who have organized with the goal of making sure that people who cannot get to Tops can get bottled drinking water. [private]
The group was originally organized in Mid-December 2015 by Michelle O’Leary, who Deputy Mayor Ric DiDonato called “an angel.” The first two people to volunteer, and the most active, are Angie Wason and Jessica Fisher. There are currently about 20 people signed up to help with distribution; about ten are “regulars.”
O’Leary said she started the group because she realized that some people would need help. Her inspiration comes from her grandmother. “My grandmother taught me that people help out people in need, even the little things count,” she explained. She remembers a time when there was a flood in her hometown when she was young and her grandmother brought coffee and donuts to volunteers who had been working hard during the crisis, and it seemed to make all the difference, “so that’s why I’m doing this.” O’Leary, Fisher, and Wason all said that they just like helping people. (Fisher is also a volunteer with the Hoosick Rescue Squad.)
O’Leary and the others feel that the PFOAs in the Hoosick Falls water are a real problem, but their can-do attitude is, “you can complain, or you can do something.” They want to do what they can to make the situation better moving forward, and delivering water to homebound and elderly people is something positive they can contribute.
The group has had several meetings to organize the volunteers. Routes, schedules, finding out who needs water delivery, and coordinating with Tops all had to be worked out. O’Leary said Wason and Fisher have been a tremendous resource in helping her identify different community organizations to reach out to in order to get the word out to seniors and others who need water delivered. Some of the groups the HF Water Distribution Volunteers have, or plan to, contact are the Senior Center, the Food Pantry, The Boy and Girl Scouts, Head Start, The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), the Cheney Library, and the Lions’ and Kiwanis Clubs. They have made sure that the Health Center and The Danforth are covered. “We’re still finding our way,” said O’Leary. “We are still working on setting regular routes and schedules and perhaps specific times for unexpected water needs.” They keep track of who gets what by using the same sign-in sheets that everyone uses when they pick up at Tops.
The volunteers met with Mayor David Borge, who is supportive of what they are doing. “I see volunteers stepping forward to help people, and that’s what community and living in a small town is all about; neighbors helping neighbors,” Borge said. They also met with Police Chief Ashe who guided them through some of the potential safety issues. Some of the suggestions included not entering anyone’s home but leaving the containers just inside the door, having a set schedule with the same person delivering to the same “customers” each time, working in pairs, etc. They will soon be wearing ID badges when they deliver.
The one potential down side to the process is that it creates a recycling issue, especially with the boxes. Many of the deliverees ask the volunteers to take the boxes. The Mayor has offered the recycling bins behind the Municipal Building. “Other arrangements can be made if that becomes necessary,” he said.
People have been very gracious and appreciative of the water deliveries, they said, offering warmhearted thanks and even snacks or small tokens of appreciation when the volunteers deliver. They have arranged for the Boy Scouts to start spending part of every Sunday at Tops, helping folks who can get to Tops but have difficulty lifting the heavy bottles load them into carts and cars. “It’s wonderful how Michelle has stepped up to the plate, and the Village will support them in any way we can,” said Borge.
O’Leary moved to Hoosick Falls recently from Hudson, NY. She and her family came here because they liked the sense of community in Hoosick Falls. Despite the challenges, she’s glad she’s here, and she’s forging ahead with life in the community. She’s met some excellent people (Fisher and Wason are two), her daughter likes the school, and life seems to be okay. She is philosophical about the water situation; there are so many chemicals and contaminants out there, who’s to say what or which will make you sick. She understands that the water problem will be fixed, but in the meantime she is cautious about it.
If you or somebody you know cannot get to Tops to pick up bottled drinking water, and would like to be added to the delivery route, please call Michelle O’Leary at 518-697-9698 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, or the Village Clerk at 518-686-7072 during office hours. In addition, the Police Department keeps some bottled water on hand if an emergency situation comes up. Their number is 518-686-7600.[/private]