“These folks from Springville, they really made a difference,” said divisional field representative for the Salvation Army Rod Ballengee about local residents who offered to help those in Gowanda who were impacted by the flood.
Marge Gaske of Springville organized an effort to collect and sort through food, supplies and clothing that was collected by WGRZ and several Wal-Marts in the Buffalo area.
After asking the Salvation Army if they needed any help, Ballengee responded that they needed a hand delivering donations to Gowanda.
Ballengee explained that WGRZ was working with several Wal-Marts in the area who were collecting items for the flood-affected people of Gowanda on Friday, Aug. 21.
It began as a school supply program and grew to include victims of the flood.
The generosity of Buffalo businesses collected bleach, cleaning supplies, diapers, food and clothing from the area residents.
“As a result of people being so generous, we are being flooded with all that stuff,” Ballengee said.
“The good news was people were donating, the bad news was I didn’t have any way of getting it back here,” Ballengee added.
According to Ballengee the effort will be long-term because of the ongoing cleanup effort, which will last for months.
Downtown Gowanda was covered in mud after a flood on August 9, inundated several houses and the hospital which was vacated. Patients are now transferred to ECMC.
“Marge put out a call to the folks in Springville. She rounded up a group of people who are on the road right now getting supplies,” he told the Journal about Gaske on August 22.
Ginny Wells, Helen Williams, Mel Williams and Leah Williams assisted Marge in the collection at her home in East Concord and they delivered items to Gowanda. Dave Batterson of Springville Door and Window also took a truckload of items, using his business vehicle.
“This is Springville’s contribution to the folks,” Ballengee said.
Anyone in Gowanda who needs assistance can get bottled water, cleanup kits, food and clothing from the Salvation Army Disaster Center.
Donations are still being accepted. Items needed the most are cleaning supplies and food.
“That will continue until Sunday, September 6,” Ballengee noted.
The Salvation Army is also serving lunch and dinner out of the new Gowanda Fire Hall on the Aldrich Street Extension, and two mobile disaster canteens out of Rochester and Olean-Hornell are providing lunch throughout the village. A third canteen from Buffalo assisted previously.
Food is being provided for first responders, relief workers and flood victims.
“We could use monetary donations,” Ballengee noted.
Donations may be made online at SalvationArmyEmpireState.org. Click on “donate now” and specify that it can be used for the Empire State Division’s Emergency Disaster Services.
Checks made out to the Salvation Army may be mailed to Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Empire State Division, 200 Twin Oaks Drive, Syracuse, NY 13206.