Mamaroneck Village Church Members Work Together to Resume Services
by Tara Lynch
Westchester County, NY – In the Washingtonville section of Mamaroneck Village Sunday, parishioners of St. Vito’s Church were anxious to return to their place of worship following last week’s devastating nor’easter. Community volunteers and members of the parish worked hard all week to clean up the church, ravaged by the storm.
In the days leading up to what residents hoped to be the first church services following the disaster, the St. Vito’s community was hard at work. Last Friday, NY Sen. Charles Schumer met with St. Vito’s leader the Rev. James Healy to tour the property and listen to Healy’s story. Both the Church and St. Vito’s School sustained significant damage last week, when heavy rains brought massive flooding to the entire area. As the sunny skies on Saturday helped to dry out homes and businesses, St. Vito’s also used the beautiful weather to begin the recovery process, arranging salvageable items on their welcoming steps, providing hope to parishioners eager to return to their place of worship.
The front steps of St. Vito’s Church in Mamaroneck on Saturday
Photo credit: Tara Lynch
Both the weather and the hard work of local volunteers sustained the community, as parishioners got their wish – church services were conducted Sunday at St. Vito’s, a testament to the strength and resiliency of neighbors pulling together for their parish.
Other areas of worship, such as the First Baptist Church, have also been looking to local partners to help with the clean-up. Today, the Rev. Jackson and his First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck continued to dry out the pews and remove debris from his beloved church. Visits from NY Sen. Hilary Clinton, Sen. Balboni, and Westchester County officials Andy Spano and Nita Lowey included tours of the First Baptist neighborhood, along with the opportunity to meet residents and survey flood damage. Community partners such as the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross work side by side with local residents to support their recovery efforts. Local Red Cross relief teams continue to work with the Rev. Jackson, providing hot meals, blankets and individual assistance to his collective congregation still without power.
Local workers continue provide assistance at the Red Cross shelter, where residents have access to the resources they need.
Photo credit: Tara Lynch
Many residents displaced by the floods remain in an American Red Cross shelter on the grounds of Mamaroneck High School. Dedicated local residents have been seen returning to their neighborhoods during the day to help their neighbors in need. Red Cross volunteers continue to provide outreach to the community as well, driving throughout the area with food, water and clean-up kits to help with the relief effort. “We’ll continue to support the communities affected by this disaster until they no longer need us,” says Susan Rounds, acting COO at the Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We’ve been able to reach deep into these communities to help get individuals and families the help they need.”
Residents of this home have begun to clean up, removing furniture damaged by flood waters last week.
Photo credit: Tara Lynch
