John Calvin Toll Day to once again benefit communities

Union College students, faculty and staff join city leaders and area residents for the 12th annual John Calvin Toll Day to spruce up Saturday, October 21 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The College’s Annual Community Service Day event is coordinated by Union’s Kenney Community Center, The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC), Schenectady Promise and local volunteers to recognize National Make a Difference Day, Oct. 28, and provide service learning opportunities for all campus members to participate in the commitment to the city of Schenectady.

Students repainted a mural outside Hamilton Hill Arts Center during last year's Toll Day.

“It’s always wonderful to see the Union College community working side by side with our neighbors on this national day of service,” said Gretchel Hathaway Tyson, director, Affirmative Action and Community Outreach. “The students learn more about Schenectady and its history; it’s a win-win for all of the volunteers and especially for the City of Schenectady.” 

Volunteers will assist with a variety of beautification projects throughout the city including weeding, hedge trimming, raking, reshaping bushes, removing rubbish and planting 2000 daffodil bulbs. Schenectady Promise and DSIC will be supplying the necessary tools and equipment for the cooperative effort to clean and maintain downtown Schenectady.

Individual and group volunteers will convene in front of the Old Chapel at 9:30  a.m. to receive an assignment and board the buses. Transportation to the various sites will be provided by the College and every volunteer will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Union encourages the Minerva Houses, student, athletic, business and community groups to organize and join with the Pre-Health Society, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and Psi Upsilon Fraternity who have already committed their support to this cohesive endeavor.

Named for one of Union's first graduates in 1799, John Calvin Toll Day is supported by Al Hill, a 1946 Union graduate and his wife, Perrie. Toll was the great-great-grandfather of Hill, a retired attorney from Buffalo. The Hills created the fund to encourage Union students to undertake volunteer service.

Union’s Kenney Community Center coordinates 11 community service programs, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls Inc., America Reads, Homework Center and Skills Development Program, Rotaract Club, Union Community Action Reaching Everyone (U-CARE), and Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP).

For further information or to register contact Angela Blair at (518) 388-6609 or  blaira@union.edu.

This story was featured in AboutU - Parents on October 16, 2006