A sunny breezy day in Middleburgh, NY

Sorry, no pictures today.  I left the camera at home.  Jay, Cathie, John O., Donna D., and Jen D. returned to Middleburgh.  Our assignment for today was to help Frank and Marion by removing the shower and do more mud and wet insulation removal.  Frank and Marion were there working with us.  There is so much to do.  It helped to be able to open the windows and get some fresh air moving through.  We got the shower loosened but will have to wait for Frank's plumber friend to release the drain so it can be removed.  It was hard to say goodbye to Frank and Marion for now because they have so much more work to do.  However, they do have friends to help and resources.  They thanked us for helping at a time when they were overwhelmed.  Marion said we gave them hope.  When we return to Middleburgh, we will stop by and visit.
Also Pastor Carol introduced us to Jackie who is a senior and who's home was flooded.  She has been living in Cobleskill so has had trouble connecting with the help available in Middleburgh.  Jay, Cathie, and John went with her to her house.  She needed help with applying her mask and learning that she could talk with it on.  It is not safe for her to be in her house without one.  She is also hard of hearing so it is hard for her to communicate and listen when she can't see the mouths of those speaking to her.  We realize that the masks make it difficult for us also.  (We are seniors.)  Her home has been devastated by the flood as she lived next to the Schoharie Creek (looks more like a muddy rapidly flowing river).  We discussed with Jackie the need to remove the lower cabinets in her kitchen in order to get at the walls.  In addition, her hard wood floors had buckled.  John stayed with her to begin on the floors.  Jackie cleared the counters so that her kitchen could be torn apart.  She thanked us for coming.  (We go and serve and give hugs.)
We all got together for lunch at our host church, Middleburgh UMC.  Later in the afternoon, we took out her lower kitchen cabinets finding water and mold behind them.  In addition, we took out most of the flooring that John had removed. 
Jackie was so glad when a man stopped by with a truck to remove the many contractor bags from her street side.  Unfortunately we filled the space up again with parts of her home.  There is so much more work to do.
Pastor Carol called Jay again and asked him to check on another home to see what was left to be done.
This home had mountains of debris in the yard.  Much had been clean out inside but there was mold on the ceiling fans and one of the ceilings.  The crawl space below the floor was dark with no visible means of ventilation.  The heating ducts had not been removed.  They are probably filled with wet mud.  There is so much work to do.  Jay will report back to Pastor Carol.  Next week she will send teams of volunteers out into the community again to find out how the families are progressing.
We are amazed by the way the community is working together.  There will be a parade in Middleburgh this Saturday which is an annual event.  At the end of the parade, there will be a banner that says "Good night Irene".  Please pray for this community.
Our team will be returning to Middleburgh next Wed., Oct. 12.  Please join us.  Contact Jay Dunklebeger at jdunkleb@nycap.rr.com or 518-371-7071.