As president of the Monticello Board of Education, Lori Orestano-James got to see how important it is to educate school staff about getting the COVID-19 vaccine shot in arms.

“Without teachers and staff at school and bus drivers having the vaccine, there was no way we were ever going to be able to get kids back in school," Orestano-James said.

And as someone who already wears a lot of hats in Sullivan County, she didn’t hesitate to tackle a new challenge as a member of the county’s new volunteer corps.

The group of volunteers was something Sullivan had looked to create for some time, but it finally came together during the pandemic.

“That particular crew is now active and working, and should anything come up again, they’re at the ready to be able to help the county," Orestano-James said.

The corps spent much of its volunteer hours assisting medical professionals distribute vaccines at clinics. The success of the group has led the county to apply for the creation of an official Medical Reserve Corps through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Orestano-James says everyone who volunteered has a role to play, and as a school board president, she found her fit.

“Basically, to advocate, educate and to assist people to be able to get their vaccines, should they choose to want them," the former Monticello High School principal said.

At the peak of the vaccination efforts, Orestano-James says she would answer dozens of emails and nearly 100 phone calls a day.

While things have since slowed down, she still wants people to have the resources they need to make an educated decision on the vaccine.

“To make sure that people get the answers that they need, that they get the medical advice that they need, that it's based on science, and that we have information clear so people can make the best decisions for themselves," Orestano-James said.