Pastor Gail Adamoschek -- Woman of Distinction

Each year, the State Senate honors "Women of Distinction" and each Senator selects a woman from their district who has contributed to their community. This year, I selected Pastor Gail Adamoschek, who was so instrumental in the recovery efforts after the Fort Plain floods.

Here's her bio:

She led the church in helping the poor in the region when in 2006 a devastating flood hit the area. They sent supplies of all types to flooded  families while opening the church for a place of refuge and volunteering to help. Hurricane Irene, in 2011 brought a level of destruction in the region that the church quickly responded to. Pastor Gail  led many teams to the Schoharie Valley region as well as in the Mohawk Valley, to mud/gut and help rebuild homes. Working with Jezreel International, she took truck loads of food, clothing and building supplies to the families so crushed by the horrendous flood. Also, Gail set up a volunteer group and led hundreds of volunteers to work in both valleys, helping families to recuperate from Hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee. 

Gail received her certification for international disaster relief work through Crisis Response International,  a Christian relief organization specializing in disaster relief, in May of 2013. Immediately responding to the Moore, OK tornado, helping to bring emotional and spiritual support, while also giving out basic supplies to hundreds of people there. She and teammates were in the path of the giant El Reno tornado, barely missing a direct hit from it on May 31. Her boots were on the group to help families move out of their destructed homes and get food. 

June 2013 - Fort Plain, a town in Montgomery County, flooded in a sudden summer storm. Pastor Gail and River of Jubilee Church responded in every way they could to help the people. Pastor Gail worked with other local pastors to create a complete structure for disaster response. Flooded families could get supplies, food, volunteers or information through this collaborative effort of the churches. Gail became the director of the Volunteer Center in Fort Plain, giving direction to the hundreds of volunteers who poured into the town to help bring restoration to that pleasant village. She continues to work with local and state government to help bring in needed help through volunteers. Her own church also continues going out and working to rebuild and to bring emotional and spiritual support to the people. Gail now is a co-chair for the Fulton-Montgomery Long Term Recovery Group, working to help the area recover and to plan for future events. Pastor Gail is proof that one person can do a lot when motivated by the Biblical standard of 'loving your neighbor'.