To the Editor:

The Kiwanis Club of New Scotland, the village of Voorheesville, and the town of New Scotland have teamed up to present Community Cares Days, an unprecedented volunteer endeavor for two Saturdays this spring.

The first event, Community Green Clean, will take place on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to noon and feature recycling events and environmental projects throughout the village and town. Volunteers can sign up to help with street, park, or cemetery clean-ups or take part in the annual Vly Creek clean-up. Recycling efforts will be held at the Voorheesville firehouse and include paper-shredding, clothing collection, a bottle drive, and more to be announced.

The second event, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, will take place Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to noon and feature a variety of projects to help our senior and disabled neighbors in need. Volunteers can sign up to help with yardwork and other light household chores or contact us to be involved with one of our more labor-intensive projects. Project coordination will take place at the New Scotland Town Hall.

Who can volunteer? Anyone! Gather your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, club members, or teammates and join us for one or two rewarding mornings. All volunteers who help on April 29 and May 6 are invited to a barbecue at the New Scotland Town Hall on May 6 from noon to 2 p.m. It’s a wonderful time to come together and celebrate all the good work that was accomplished with your family, friends and neighbors.

More details will posted on the village of Voorheesville, town of New Scotland, and New Scotland Kiwanis Facebook pages. Volunteers are asked to sign up in advance via email at or by calling Karen Finnessey, village of Voorheesville, at (518) 765-2692 or me, Janna Shillinglaw, New Scotland Kiwanis, at (518) 369-0093. Your commitment will help us coordinate efforts for the projects as well as help us keep you informed of details and updates.

We are accepting requests for projects until April 20. If you need assistance and live in the town of New Scotland, please contact Susan Kidder, Senior Outreach liaison, at (518) 439-9038. She will discuss your needs and put you in touch with the planning committee.

Community Cares Days encompasses all communities within the borders of the town of New Scotland, including Feura Bush, Clarksville, and the village of Voorheesville. If you or your group have a project that will fit within the mission, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are especially encouraging all the Adopt-a-Highway sign-holders to go out and clean up their roadsides on April 29. Let us know what you are doing that day if you can’t join us at the organized events.

Our community cares about its environment and neighbors. Let us know we can count on you!

Janna Shillinglaw

New Scotland Kiwanis