For Binghamton High School Principal Kevin Richman, it’s just another day on the job. He, along with staff like Terri McMahon at Binghamton High School, are putting together meals and preparing their building to welcome students.
But this isn’t your typical day.
Binghamton, along with just about every other Broome County school district, canceled classes for the second time this week after a mid-April snowstorm took down power lines, leaving over 40,000 without electricity.
Richman, along with district leaders, made the move to open the school anyway, providing students and their families with food, warmth and a place to charge their electronics.
“It’s part of what we do as educators is to make sure we’re truly educating the whole child, and in this particular situation, it’s our duty to step up in situation where we can help,” said Richman.
Students and their families were able to pick up a free lunch, provided by staff who chose to come in and help, despite school being canceled for the day.
“On a day like this, when many of our staff are dealing with their own issues of not having power, or not having showered or maybe not having food themselves, it’s a testament to them that they’re still here preparing for our kids or our families, often putting their own personal needs aside to take care of our community here,” said Richman.
And they weren’t the only ones welcome at the school as the building was also open to the men and women working around the clock to keep people safe during the storm.
“Our first responders respond, but the reality is if we can offer a cup of coffee or a hot chocolate, or just a warm place to be, we need to do that. They’re just as much of our community as our staff members and our families,” said Richman.
Along with the shelter and food, families were welcome to wash clothes within the school as power remains out.
Power has been restored to some homes throughout the region but Gov. Kathy Hochul said it could be a couple of more days before the entire state is restored back to normal.
Here are other resources available.
Broome County
- Windsor Middle School, C.R. Weeks Elementary School and Floyd L. Bell Elementary School cafeterias are available as warm up/charge up stations through 5 p.m. Should you need assistance with food, please visit the Food Bank of the Southern Tier website at www.foodbankst.org and click “Find Food” on top right. If you don't have web access, please call 211.
Chenango County
The following locations have established as “shelters” or “warming centers” for people in need.
- YMCA – Norwich – Shelter (overnight shelter is available)
- Smyrna FD – Warming Shelter Coventry FD – Warming Shelter
- Norwich High School – City of Norwich, NY – warming shelter and showers
- Otselic Valley Central School District – South Otselic, NY - Overnight shelter, showers and food available
- Sherburne Earliville School – Sherburne, NY. – Food is available for pickup only.
- Unadilla Valley CSD – New Berlin, NY – Open from 3 PM to 7 PM for Students families and local residents.
Otsego County
Warming stations can be found at
- Oneonta Armory on Academy Street
- Clark’s Sports Center in Cooperstown
- SUNY Oneonta for SUNY and Hartwick students
Herkimer County
Warming stations can be found at
- Old Forge Fire Department
- Eagle Bay Fire Department
- Poland Fire Department
- Midtown Apartments in Herkimer
- Mount Markham Middle School in West Winfield
- Mohawk Reform Church in Mohawk
Oneida County
Warming stations can be found at
- Sauquoit Fire Department