Community Spotlight: Caravan For Health Care • Citizen Action of New York

On October 20th, 2009, our Southern Tier Chapter took a full day to visit towns throughout Central New York with the message that we need health care reform now!

Here’s the play-by-play from Souther Tier Chapter Volunteer Wanda Mead Campbell:

Caravan to Remember Victims of Lack of Health Care Coverage Goes Through Binghamton, Cortland, and Utica

Starting in Binghamton at the First Presbyterian Church, 42 Chenango St. with a solidarity welcome by Pastor Monica Styron on the steps of her church at 10 a.m., Councilwoman Lea Webb facilitated the event. The Reverend Fred Brooks, Jr., guided a spirited group with words of remembrance for health care tragedies, hope for health care reform this year, and prayers for the decision makers to do the right thing. Rev. Brooks tolled a bell 5 times in memory of the tragic deaths resulting from the horror of lack care due to lack of health insurance. Peg Schadt of Johnson City and Mary Lou Harvey of Binghamton underscored this with their stories of losing loved ones because the health insurance industry is not set up for treatment, but rather for profits.

The caravan hit the road up I-81 to Cortland, joining another spirited group. The ceremony was repeated with bell ringing and speeches. Cortland activists and clergy participated in front of the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 Church St., Cortland. Speakers included Rev. Barbara Blom Pastor of Preble Congregational Church. Rev. Vicki Johnson Pastor of Chenango Forks Congregational Church and Executive Director of Cortland County Council of Churches, Pastor Nate Wright Senior Pastor of God’s Lighthouse of Praise Church Cortland and Chaplain at Cortland County Jail, Rev Rich Rose, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ithaca, and Ruth Grunberg activist in Cortland.

Afterwards, we marched and chanted -“What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now! We marched to Congressman Mike Arcuri’s office at 16 Church Street to deliver 1500 petition signatures supporting health care reform that gives the people a public option. Lea Webb delivered the petitions to Bob Messenger of Arcuri’s office who expressed sympathy for the need for health care reform. After a cordial visit, the unstoppable caravan got back on the road, off to give Utica the same treatment as Binghamton and Cortlan

Caravan to Remember Victims of Lack of Health Care Coverage Goes Through Binghamton, Cortland, and Utica

Afterwards, we marched and chanted -“What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now! We marched to Congressman Mike Arcuri’s office at 16 Church Street to deliver 1500 petition signatures supporting health care reform that gives the people a public option. Lea Webb delivered the petitions to Bob Messenger of Arcuri’s office who expressed sympathy for the need for health care reform. After a cordial visit, the unstoppable caravan got back on the road, off to give Utica the same treatment as Binghamton and Cortland.

Starting in Binghamton at the First Presbyterian Church, 42 Chenango St. with a solidarity welcome by Pastor Monica Styron on the steps of her church at 10 a.m., Councilwoman Lea Webb facilitated the event. The Reverend Fred Brooks, Jr., guided a spirited group with words of remembrance for health care tragedies, hope for health care reform this year, and prayers for the decision makers to do the right thing. Rev. Brooks tolled a bell 5 times in memory of the tragic deaths resulting from the horror of lack care due to lack of health insurance. Peg Schadt of Johnson City and Mary Lou Harvey of Binghamton underscored this with their stories of losing loved ones because the health insurance industry is not set up for treatment, but rather for profits.

The caravan hit the road up I-81 to Cortland, joining another spirited group. The ceremony was repeated with bell ringing and speeches. Cortland activists and clergy participated in front of the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 Church St., Cortland. Speakers included Rev. Barbara Blom Pastor of Preble Congregational Church. Rev. Vicki Johnson Pastor of Chenango Forks Congregational Church and Executive Director of Cortland County Council of Churches, Pastor Nate Wright Senior Pastor of God’s Lighthouse of Praise Church Cortland and Chaplain at Cortland County Jail, Rev Rich Rose, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ithaca, and Ruth Grunberg activist in Cortland.

Here’s a slideshow of the photos from the event: