Schoharie County company investing in flood recovery effort

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

A Schoharie County company will put up to $250,000 toward the post-flood rebuilding effort in a matching grant challenge aimed at drawing more help for the hundreds still in need.

The Schoharie Area Long Term regional recovery coalition this week announced $100,000 has already been collected toward the program offered by Fenimore Asset Management of Cobleskill, an independent investment advisory firm.

The firm’s vice president, Anne Putnam, was among those personally affected by tropical storms Irene and Lee. She said her parents’ home, where she was raised, will be torn down in November.

Putnam said the company donates 10 percent of its pre-tax proceeds anonymously, and the company sees this flood relief donation challenge as a way to pump a half-million dollars into the effort.

Putnam said many people affected by the floods still live in FEMA trailers. Though depressing, Putnam said the area is making strides.

“There’s been a lot of progress. We do have a long way to go, people are very proud to be from the area and they’re helping each other,” Putnam said. “It’s really that neighborly effort that’s got us where we are today.”

SALT’s chairwoman, the Rev. Sherri Meyer-Veen, said in a news release the company’s support is uplifting.

“We still have a way to go, and this challenge grant is an excellent boost to assist SALT in fulfilling the mission of meeting unmet needs in the extended Schoharie Creek basin,” Meyer-Veen said.

SALT Director Sarah Goodrich said Tuesday the Fenimore Asset Management challenge is getting an additional boost from the Capital District Radio Association. The association of local radio stations has promised to broadcast public service announcements about the drive and have pledged $10,000 toward the fund.

This adds to another $100,000 Goodrich said they’ve quietly solicited since they learned of Fenimore’s grant.

“It’s a great kick-off to the matching fund itself,” Goodrich said.

Tax deductible donations may be made online at www.saltrecovery.org or by writing a check to the “Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region” with “SALT disaster recovery fund unmet needs” in the memo line and mailing it to the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, 6 Tower Place, Albany, NY 12203.