BINGHAMTON – With thousands impacted by widespread flooding across upstate New York last week, Binghamton-based radio and television station WSKG – partnered with the United Way – has helped raise approximately $232,000 in flood relief money to be distributed throughout Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Delaware and Otsego counties.
According to Chenango United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco, WSKG applied for an FCC-approved waiver earlier this week in order to hold a Flood Relief Telethon from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The United Way has been designated as the organization that will handle monetary donations raised by the telethon, according to the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management.
“We expect some additional funds to come in today and we hope to have a total for Chenango County in the next few days,” said Monaco. “The events of the past week have been really devastating for our community and for those surrounding Chenango County. Our community relies on a strong local United Way campaign and this year a successful campaign will be more important than ever.”
Funds contributed to the Chenango United Way through the telethon will be restricted to flood relief efforts only and will not be used toward the general United Way campaign, stressed Monaco. Therefore, she added, it’s “critical that we continue to publicize our need to raise more than $440,000 for programs that benefit from the unrestricted annual campaign contributions.”
In addition, the Chenango Area Recovery Team – created to assist in the long-term needs of community members following the flood of 2006 – has been re-convened to oversee flood recovery in Chenango County, reported Monaco.
“CART will play a major role in allocating funds raised in the telethon to the programs and agencies assisting Chenango County flood victims,” she added.
For more information on the Chenango United Way, call 334-8815 or visit www.chenangouw.org.