To the Editor:

We had a terrific turnout for Community Cares Days on April 29 and May 6. Residents and business owners really stepped up to help care for our beautiful town and our neighbors. Thank you to all who participated!

During the April 29 Community Green Clean event, several volunteers cleared portions of the Vly Creek, while others joined with the Adopt-a-Highway crews from the Voorheesville and New Salem fire departments, The Friends of Jerry Clark, the New Scotland Republican Committee, and the Bethlehem Children’s School to clean up many of our roadways.

We had several large groups help with the cleanup of the village parks: Brownies, Girls Scouts, Cub Scouts, and the Helderview Garden Club.

A steady stream of vehicles came through the recycling drop-off loop at the Voorheesville firehouse. We shredded over 9,000 pounds of paper and personal documents and just over 9,200 pounds of scrap metal were turned in at the scrap yard to benefit the Voorheesville lacrosse team.

Bags of clothes were collected for the United Methodist Church’s thrift shop. Additionally, a pickup truck was filled with books to benefit the Albany Book Project, and shoe boxes, newspapers, and towels were collected for the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. The Fire Department’s Auxiliary benefitted from a record number of bottles and cans — over 20,000!

During the May 6 Neighbor Helping Neighbor event, volunteers helped at 14 different sites, raking lawns, washing windows, planting flowers, making small home repairs, and even building a handicap ramp.

The culmination of both events was celebrated by many volunteers at a barbecue at the New Scotland Town Hall.

Helping to make both days successful were the local businesses that donated to the cause: Smith’s Tavern, Reddy’s Deli, Indian Ladder Farms, Subway, Pepsi Cola Company, Robert Wright Disposal, Stewart’s Shops (Voorheesville and Slingerlands stores), Emma Cleary’s Café, Falvo’s Meat Market, Our Family’s Harvest, Robinson Ace Hardware, Voorheesville Rod and Gun Club, Hannaford Supermarket, United Rentals, and Dr. Steven Lysenko.

Thank you to all the employees, board members, and leaders at the village and town who helped make the days run smoothly. A special thank-you to both Mayor Robert Conway and Supervisor Doug LaGrange for volunteering at an event as well. Thank you as well to our recycling and firehouse volunteers and our barbecue crew!

Big thanks and much appreciation goes to our committee members who made Community Cares Days possible. Participants included village residents Kevin George, Lance Moore, Bruce Moore, Bridget McManus, Dan Byrne, and Rich Mazzaferro, as well as town residents Joe and Katherine Sapienza, Joanne and Rich Porter, and Evie Shillinglaw. Every one of you gave your time, personal resources, and dedication to make the volunteer events successful, rewarding, and fun.

Lastly, we truly appreciate the efforts of all the volunteers who arrived with smiles and enthusiastic attitudes as they went out to beautify our town and assist their neighbors in need. Thank you for caring so much for your community. We look forward to seeing you again next year.

Karen Finnessey

Village of Voorheesville

Janna Shillinglaw

New Scotland Kiwanis