by Bea Peterson
At its annual Appreciation Brunch on Saturday, April 25, Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA) Volunteer Coordinator Dianne Hosterman presented Bridget Pierce with the Volunteer of the Year award. Bridget is past president of HACA. She led the association through the incorporation process in 1995, along with HACA officers Rev. Jim Peterson, Rev. Gordon Luther and Rev. Mike Benoit. Hosterman added that Bridget taught her all there is to know about running a food closet. Bridget works at the Hoosick Falls Food Closet two Wednesday evenings a month and tallies the monthly Regional Food Bank report. She has been an active Food Closet volunteer for close to 20 years.
This year’s Partnership Award was presented to Grand Union Family Markets for the many and frequent contributions they make to the Food Closet.
Youth Awards were presented to the Hoosick Falls Girl Scouts, Daisy Troop 1259, Brownie Troops 12850 and 1104, Junior Troops 1089 and 1144, Cadette and older Troops 1313, 1376 and 1415 and Boy Scouts Troops 63 and 64 for their support of the Food Closet.
Appreciation awards were given to the Food Closet staff, delivery and support people including Baker’s Nursery, Andy & Sharon Beaty, Lisa Bell, Jonathan Bossoni, Sue Bouplon, Bob and Roberta Breese, Norma Brenenstuhl, Ski Bromerski, Aaron Buzzinski, Matt Chinian, Pete & Kathy Coon, David Cornell, Nancy Duket, Iva Durkee, Dick and Mary Frey, Charlotte Forrest, Bev and Walt Gates, Dwight and Donna Howes, Gordon Hudson Family, Becky Jacques, Melissa Knebel, Steven and Sue Landry, Linda McClellan, Jack McLucas, Gus Myers, Corinne and Carleton Philpott, Bridget Pierce, George and Alison Pine, Margaret Rousseau, Vivian Smith, Anna Stone, Jerry and Janice Tate, Lynn Teker, Joe Trembley and Bob and Pat Wilkinson.
Businesses, Organizations and Friends honored at the luncheon at the First Church United, Presbyterian were American Legion Post 40, American Legion Auxiliary Post 40, Boy Scouts (Larry Mango, Scoutmaster), Delight Cullen, Pat Hayes, Stella Sawyer’s Christmas Box program, David Cornell, Girl Scouts (Joyce Brewer, neighborhood leader), Grand Union Family Markets, Hoosick Grange 1127, Hoosick Falls Central School Students/Faculty and Staff, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Jerry McAuliffe, Marie O’Dell, Mary Jane O’Dell, Bea Peterson – Eastwick Press, Reynolds Foundation, St. Mary’s Academy Students/Faculty and Staff, Gail Smith’s Youth prayer group, free Strawberry shortcake in the Park, US Post Offices in Buskirk, Hoosick, Hoosick Falls and North Hoosick, Upsy Daisy, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VITA members Don and Nancy Childs, Rich and Dianne Hosterman, Alison Pine, Tom Scholis, Marion and Harold Stevens, Weir Trust and Wood Park Tenants Association.
