by David Flint
Paula Dibble estimated that about 60 people stopped in at Stephentown’s first “Resource Roundup” held on Wednesday at the Town Hall. Dibble, who coordinated the event under the direction of Town Supervisor Tom Sherman, said she was very pleased with the turnout. “It went very well,” she said. “It would be good to do it again, perhaps on an annual basis.” There is definitely a need for this sort of thing, she said, as people don’t always know where to go for various types of assistance, particularly when living out in these rural areas.
A wide array of services was represented at the Town Hall. The Roundup included representatives from the County Department of Aging, ROUSE, nationalgrid©, NYSERDA, the Stephentown Food Pantry, the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) and Primerica Financial Services. County Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote were also on hand to help with any community or County issues that people might have.
A majority of the visitors appeared to be most interested in learning how they might get help paying their fuel bills from the Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP. The representative from nationalgrid© was there to advise. She pointed out that most applicants do have to register in Troy at the Department of Social Services, but if you are over 60 you can now do it by mail. It is expected that in a year or two you will be able to register online.
The Stephentown Food Pantry is apparently doing well despite the hard economic times. Mona Berg explained that for some reason they have not been inundated with people needing help as has been the case with some other food pantries. Then, too, the Stephentown Pantry has been very fortunate in having a wealth of donations of money and food from many local businesses and individuals. Pastor Alan Wolcott of the Community Evangelical Church turned over to the Pantry some donations he had received from movie people making the “Taking Woodstock” film. Berg related the story of one young girl in the area who on the recent occasion of her 10th birthday asked that her friends not bring gifts to her party but instead bring a donation for the Food Pantry. Staff now are in the process of preparing Thanksgiving baskets for some of their clients with food donated from local stores.
Anyone in need can get a three or four day emergency food supply from the Pantry. If longer term assistance is needed, the staff at the Pantry are equipped to advise them how to obtain it from the appropriate agency.
A couple of services of the CEO were represented. Crystal and Melissa worked the table for the WIC Program that provides nutritious foods and nutrition education for mothers of babies up to 6 months old, for pregnant women and for children up to five years old. John Champitto, Director of Housing Services at CEO, explained programs such as the Weatherization Assistance Program, the RESTORE Program that offers emergency home repair services for income-eligible elderly residents and the EmPower New York Program that offers no-cost energy services for income-qualified households.
Lee Bowman, Co-President of ROUSE, RPC spoke with visitors about that organization and its affordable housing program for the elderly in Rensselaer County. ROUSE, RPC is an offshoot of ROUSE, Inc. (Rensselaer Organizations United for Senior Endeavors) but is now a separate and distinct organization. They manage and maintain over 200 units of apartment and cottage housing in Rensselaer County for very low, low and moderate income seniors. The units are located in North Greenbush, West Sand Lake and Nassau. Bowman said there is currently about a five year waiting list for this housing so seniors weary of shoveling snow, mowing lawns and making repairs and looking down the road to move into decent, safe, affordable housing should not delay in making application.
Paula Dibble said that a number of people commented that it was very helpful to have all this useful information and expertise on assistance programs gathered in one place right here in town. Dibble expressed her appreciation for all of the participants who took time out of their schedules to spend an afternoon with the people of Stephentown.