By Joyce Kryszak
Amherst, NY – The County Executive gave a grateful send off Thursday to a veritable army of volunteers. About 350 members of the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Organization headed home after a successful mission to help with the October storm clean-up.
When the storm hit in October, the trained volunteers dropped everything and came here from across the country to lend a hand with the clean-up effort.
They trimmed and hauled tons of broken trees, primarily for the elderly, disabled and uninsured.
The group completed more than 700 high-priority jobs. Another roughly 500 jobs remain that will be completed in the weeks ahead by local volunteers.
Volunteer commander Gerald Peters said they are glad to help out - no matter how big or small the disaster.
Marsha Hoffman and her husband Larry came from Illinois and spent weeks here in the effort. She said they got back as much as they gave.
Meanwhile, county and city officials also warmly received $30 million of initial federal disaster aid to help cover the cost of non-volunteer efforts. County Executive Joel Giambra says ther is more to come.
He said the total tab for Erie County alone is still expected to top $150 million.
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