After hundreds of students helped Binghamton rebuild after Tropical Storm Lee last year, the Binghamton community is repaying the favor by raising money to help the hometowns of many of those students that were devastated by Superstorm Sandy.
Habitat for Humanity and Tau Alpha Upsilon fraternity teamed up to host an all-you-can-eat pancake fundraiser called “Cloudy with a Chance of Pancakes” for the student-run Sandy relief effort “Giving Back from Far Away.”
“Last year when Hurricane[s] Irene and Lee hit Broome County, Binghamton University students and, in particular, the Habitat for Humanity campus chapter were with us every step of the way,” said Amy Winans, executive director of Broome County’s Habitat for Humanity branch. “Now that they have given so much to us, it seems only natural we pay back what they have done for us.”
Nicholas Agostino, a senior majoring in psychology, helped organize “Giving Back from Far Away.”
“People are so happy, when they hear food they love it, especially when it is a good cause,” Agostino said. “With the hurricane linked to it and the pancakes, everyone is really eager to participate.”
Agostino and Dana Borrero, a junior double-majoring in economics and political science, began the fundraiser the Tuesday after the storm hit. “Cloudy with a Chance of Pancakes” raised almost $1,000 for Agostino and Borrero’s charity fund.
“Habitat for Humanity has this pancake event every year and they donate it to some charitable organization that they feel is worthy,” Borrero said. “Nick and I started this only a week and a half ago, and it was just a few drop boxes, but they have been really helpful and now they are donating money to us, which is really great, and we will get to help a lot of families in the tri-state area.”
Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, a charity started by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as a relief foundation for hurricanes of all magnitudes, according to Agostino and Borrero.
Winans, a BU alumna, praised students for the aid they raised for various non-profit organizations in Broome County linked to the University.
“Whatever opportunities we as a community have to help pay that back, we are ready to do that,” Winans said. “I say that as an agency director, and I also say that as a community member, that it is absolutely amazing what we have been able to accomplish with the help of Binghamton University students.”
Claude Fong, a senior double-majoring in finance and accounting, said the community was very willing to help students affected by Sandy.
“A lot of them have friends, colleagues and families who have been personally affected, and it is just difficult to help donate and help them physically when you are up here,” Fong said. “This is a very small thing we could do, but it shows there are alternative ways to give back to the community.”
Over 250 students and community members attended the event, including members from other Greek organizations.
“This event went really well, and they are doing a lot to help the community,” said Diane Nurkin, a member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and a sophomore double-majoring in medieval studies and history. “I am really happy to see college students giving back.”
The brothers of Tau Alpha Upsilon, members of Student Ambassadors and Habitat for Humanity helped run the event by making pancakes and providing orange juice, coffee and toppings for the pancakes that attendees enjoyed. Various student performance groups, including Kaskeset, the Pegs and the Pappy Parker Players, provided live entertainment.
Donations of supplies are being accepted by “Giving Back From Far Away” in boxes located at University Plaza, Undergraduate Admissions and several locations in Endicott. The items of greatest need are baby supplies, work supplies, non-perishable food items and warm clothing.