Held to launch its partnership with the Green Shirts-Christian Reformed World Relief volunteers who'll go door-to-door looking for those who still need flood help-Thursday's SALT event was a reflection on how far recovery's come.
And how far it still has to go.
Beginning March 12, Greet Shirts volunteers will canvas both Schoharie and Greene Counties to gather specifics on where help is still needed.
They'll help put together a price tag for repairs-expected to be in the millions-and may even return this summer with construction crews.
Rev. Sherry Mayer-Veen, chair of SALT-Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery-told about 100 people gathered on the front lawn of Lasell Hall in Schoharie that the fact that they were even there was nothing short of a miracle.
Among those there were Assemblyman Pete Lopez along with representatives from State Ag & Markets, and from the offices of Congressmen Paul Tonko, Kristen Gillibrand and Chris Gibson, and State Senator Jim Seward.
On August 28, Rev. Mayer-Veen said, "Where you are standing, you'd be standing under rolling, muddy water," as the Schoharie Creek overflowed its banks from one end of the Schoharie Valley to the other.
The community came together in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, she said, with food, shelter, and volunteers.
"This is what we're celebrating...but there's so much more to be done. Recovery is going to take years. We need your help."
Brian Kaiser, director of the Office of Communiversity for SUNY Cobleskill and a member of SALT, said a lot has been accomplished in a short time and as the region moves farther into the recovery phase, the help of the Green Shirts will be invaluable.
"They've been to all the hot spots that we are all aware of," Mr. Kaiser said.
"They've logged 280,000 hours of public service in 2012 alone. We were very fortunate to get their attention."
One of the things the Green Shirts will do is gather information for a date base of who still needs what kind of help.
They'll also put together an estimate of recovery costs, "and it's our hope that they will bring back some of their construction teams," Mr. Kaiser said.
Pat Ziegler, a representative for Congressman Chris Gibson, whose district includes Greene County, said when he first talked to FEMA officials immediately after the storm, they said short of Hurricane Katrina "the scale was on par with just about everything they've ever seen.
"But they also said they've never seen a community come together like this," Mr. Ziegler said.
Clinton Britt, from Congressman Tonko's office, pledged. "We're here for the long haul."
SALT serves as an umbrella for dozens of agencies involved in the recovery and has received a grant to add three paid staffers to coordinate efforts.
Thursday also marked the launch of SALT's fundraising Green Ribbon Campaign; green balloons decorated the celebration tent and green ribbons hung on the trees.
Lapel-sized green ribbons are also available for a donation at local businesses, including the Bank of Richmondville.
To purchase a "virtual green ribbon," or for more information on SALT, visit their website, saltrecovery.org.