By Peggy Lee
10:23 p.m. EST, January 9, 2012
Months after the September floods devastated parts of our area, there are still plenty of people struggling to recover.
Monday night, residents in the Bloomsburg area met with member of a faith-based group to see what help is available.
At a public meeting hosted by AGAPE, volunteers reached out to homeowners both to explain what resources are out there and to find out what is still needed.
They also provided a helpful tip: as tax season approaches, some homeowners could apply for tax relief.
The Bloomsburg fairgrounds were left under several feet of water back in September after both the Susquehanna River and nearby Fishing Creek flooded due to heavy rains.
Many homes were a total loss and months after the waters receded, the damage is still evident.
Many homeowners in this area are still in need of help.
That's why many of them came out to a public meeting at the Bloomsburg Christian Church Monday night to see what is still available for them.
"The house was damaged really bad. It's destroyed basically," said David Samayoa of Bloomsburg. "So since the floods, we are not able to go back to it and we are definitely going to have to tear the house down and just look for a different place."
"You still have to go to work everyday and keep going," said Bonnie Karnes of Scott Township. "You just can't give up even though sometimes you feel like you want to."
The meeting was hosted by AGAPE, a faith-based organization. Volunteers say there are resources available but many homeowners aren't aware.
"We do have some beautiful used furniture and appliances as long as they're available, they can have them," said Eileen Chapman, AGAPE's executive director. "We have still cleaning supplies available, we have food."
Also at the meeting, volunteers provided tax relief information for people to submit with their income tax returns.
Ed Brandau says he has not returned to his home in Bloomsburg since the floods and he wants to know if he is eligible for a tax deduction.
"We've been out since we were ordered to leave on the ninth of September and we're still probably not going to be back in until the end of this month and I live in a non-flood plain," said Brandua.
With the road to recovery still ongoing, many here said they are grateful there is still help out there.
"You know, that's one of the most amazing things that's happened, all the help from everybody. It's been just unbelievable," said Samayoa.
For more information on supplies, getting help from AGAPE volunteers, or to learn more on tax deductions for damage from a natural disaster, contact the AGAPE Center at:
AGAPE
19. E. Seventh Street
Bloomsburg, PA
(570) 317-2210