To the Editor:

It was a beautiful day and volunteers of all ages made this year’s New Scotland Kiwanis Town-Wide Volunteer Day a success.  On behalf of the committee that plans the event, I want to thank those who came out to help with 25 projects on Saturday, May 2.

From clearing portions of the Vly Creek; to planting flowers at the Feura Bush Senior apartments; to several yard, cemetery and garden cleanups throughout the town — over 60 volunteers worked very hard, but remained enthusiastic! 

Volunteers enjoyed a barbecue lunch at Town Hall, sharing stories of their rewarding efforts of the day. During lunch, the committee presented three Volunteer of the Year awards: 2015 recipients included Lance Moore, Samuel Rossi, and Ben Mackay. A plaque with their names will hang in the town hall.

Thank you to the many sponsors who made this day a success, including: Our Family’s Harvest, Smitty’s Pizza, Phillips Hardware, Voorheesville Hannaford, Falvo’s Meat Market, Stewart’s, Slingerlands Price Chopper, Latham Pepsi Bottling Co. (Hesselbacher’s), Olsen’s Ace Hardware & Garden Center, J.L. Moore & Associates, and Tastee Treat Ice Cream.

Thank you to community members who donated desserts for the barbecue. Thank you to all of our hard-working site captains.

Thank you to the following people who helped put this day together and volunteered all day at the sites: Joe & Katherine Sapienza; Melissa Faustel; Lance Moore; Jim Tunney; Dan Byrnes; Bridget McManus; Rich & Joanne Porter; Jean and Councilman Daniel Mackay; and Ben Mackay, Advisor Kelly McHale and the Voorheesville High School National Honor Society.

I’d also like to thank Jeff Pine, Susan Kidder, Supervisor Tom Dolin, Councilman Doug LaGrange, Councilman Bill Hennessey, Councilwoman Patricia Snyder, Ken Guyer, Kevin Schenmeyer, Jason Bylsma, and Albany County Legislator Michael Mackey. 

I’d also like to thank The Altamont Enterprise who expertly helps us get the word out about our event.

If I missed anyone — I thank you, too. We hope to see you next year!

I’d also like to add that our seniors need help all year round. If you’d like to be kept informed of volunteer opportunities to help our seniors throughout the year, please contact Susan Kidder at Town Hall and she will add you to her email list. 

Janna Shillinglaw

New Scotland Kiwanis

Coordinator, Town-Wide Volunteer Day