Toll Day has a new name and more opportunities this year, but the mission remains unchanged: connecting students with Schenectady and the greater Capital Region to support ongoing projects and activities in the community.
Started in 1996, the College’s largest day of community service has been known as John Calvin Toll Day since 2001. Hundreds of students typically fan out across Schenectady and the surrounding region to clean up parks and public spaces and provide other help as needed.
But as relationships with partners in the community have deepened, organizers saw an opportunity to reimagine the initiative and offer student support to existing community programs. As a result, volunteer experiences are available across four dates as opposed to one. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 12, and continuing Sunday, Sept. 13, Monday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 19, more than 600 students are expected to participate at more than 30 sites this year. Representing Greek life, athletics, clubs, organizations and others, this includes the 480 members of the Class of 2030 as part of their orientation experience.
Students participate in Toll Day in September 2025. The community service event has been expanded to four days this year and is now called the John Calvin Toll Days of Community Engagement.
The expanded opportunities have led to a new name: the John Calvin Toll Days of Community Engagement.
The activities this year include gardening and outdoor property maintenance, distributions of school supplies and household items, and staffing Schenectady's major festivals alongside our community partners: Bethel Northside, Boulevard Appreciation Neighborhood Association, Engine Hill Neighborhood Association, Goose Hill Neighborhood Association, Joan Nicole Prince Home, Kelly Adirondack Center, Little Italy Business Association, RED Bookshelf, Saratoga Therapeutic Equestrian Program, Schenectady Caribbean Day, Schenectady Schools' Farm to School Program, Schenectady Street Soldiers, Schenectady Urban Farms, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Union STEP, and Yates Elementary School.
On Monday, Sept. 14, the College will partner with RED Bookshelf in mending children's books for distribution in the community in Old Chapel. The program addresses childhood literacy disparities across the Capital Region by mending, stocking and distributing free, high-quality books directly to children in local schools and community centers.
In addition to the volunteer opportunities, organizers are encouraging students to experience Schenectady’s vibrant cultural scene by attending any of the festivals taking place, including the Little Italy Street Fest on Jay Street, the Greek Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church and the Caribbean Multi-Cultural Festival in Central Park.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2030 to Union and kick off their journey with the John Calvin Toll Days of Community Engagement,” said Kevin Trigonis, director of Community Engagement and Outreach. “It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity to see our newest students working side-by-side with returning student leaders, athletic programs and campus clubs and organizations to make a lasting impact.”
John Calvin Toll was a member of Union’s first graduating class in 1799. He was the great-great-grandfather of Al Hill ’46, a retired attorney from Buffalo who died in 2007.
The community service project is supported by a gift from Hill and his wife, Perrie. The Hills created the fund to encourage Union students to undertake volunteer service.