The Oct. 16 concert, which will also include a live auction of donated items, runs from noon to 6 p.m., and admission will be by ticket. General admission will cost $20 for adults, $15 for college students with ID and kids age 12 to 18; kids under age 12 get in free. If you’re a paying attendee at the Oct. 2 concert, you will be able to buy tickets to the Oct. 16 event at a $5 discount. A special $100 VIP ticket will get you the best seats in the house, under a tent, plus food and beverages provided by local restaurants.
But what about the money being raised here? It’s natural to wonder how it will be distributed fairly and who will exercise oversight. Since obtaining official certification as a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization is a lengthy process, New Paltz Flood Aid has enlisted the help of the New Paltz Community Foundation as its umbrella 501 (c) (3). “We’re really happy to be working so locally,” says Fall. The Foundation will hold the pursestrings and allocate the funds according to need, based on insurance coverage and the percentage of loss. They will be divided up according to a formula of 50 percent to farmers, 35 percent to families most affected by the flood and 15 percent to first-responder organizations — all within the borders of the Town of New Paltz.
Both events will be streamed live on the Internet via webcast. If you have items that you would like to donate for the raffle and live auction, you can drop them off at the Mudd Puddle, the Antique Barn or Mixture. Donation checks can be made out to “New Paltz Community Foundation” with “FLOOD AID” in the memo line and mailed care of the New Paltz Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1112, New Paltz, NY 12561.
For more information about New Paltz Flood Aid, visit www.newpaltzfloodaid.com, e-mail [email protected] or visit Facebook and search “Flood Aid for New Paltz Farmers, Families and First Responders.” If you are a New Paltz family or farm in need, please call Judy Ness at 332-8432. Impacted farmers should also report their losses to the local Soil and Water District, and families suffering flood damage need to register with Family of New Paltz in order to receive a distribution of funds.
“The community outpouring has been tremendous,” says Fall of the response so far to the group’s efforts. If the winds of luck blow a little more favorably this time, the people of New Paltz and vicinity will turn out in force on Oct. 2 and 16 to demonstrate to our local farmers and other soggy neighbors that we’re all in this together. ++
