by Bea Peterson
At the Hoosick Area Church Association Annual Volunteer and Community Partners Appreciation Brunch on Saturday, May 21, Norma Brenenstuhl was honored as the Volunteer of the Year. Fallon Parker received the Helping Hands Award. The Partnership Award was presented to Pat Hayes for St. Mary’s Academy. This year SMA hosted the very successful Taste of Hoosick event. The Community Award was presented to Hoosick Falls Central School for supporting HACA’s various projects.
Guest Speaker Dave Cleveland is volunteer coordinator for the Regional Food Bank.
He said it has been a new and humbling experience working with the 1,300 volunteers that support the Albany and Rensselaer County food closets.
Besides the Food Closet HACA offers VITA Income Tax preparation, emergency help for fuel, housing and gas, Senior services, the Back 2 School Boost program, Lenten lunches, worship services at the Health Center and Danforth, Christian concerts, Vacation Bible School and the HFCS Baccalaureate service and scholarship.
Member churches are All Saints Episcopal, Community Alliance, Cornerstone Fellowship, First United Presbyterian, First Baptist of Hoosick Falls, Hoosick Baptist, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic, St. Mark’s Episcopal and West Hoosick Baptist. Officers for 2011 are Rev. Michael Benoit-President, Joyce Brewer-Vice President/Secretary and Dianne Hosterman-Treasurer.
Food Closet Volunteers are Sue Bouplon, Aaron Buzzinski, Elva Cipperly, Dolores Contessa, Jim and Evylene Cutler, Vivian de Mercado, Nancy Duket, Jon Filkins, Kelly Granger, Tammy and Gordon Hudson, Becky Jacques, Ben Karol, Susan Landry, Marie Lucey, Gus Myers, Fallon Parker, Bridget Pierce, Alison Pine, Zoe and Zaynah Poore, Alicia Randall, Mary Ramancus, Margaret and Armand Rousseau, Tom Scholis, Vivian Smith, Anna Stone, Lynn Teker, Zoe Thomas, Joe Trembley. Plowing and Other Services – Jerry McAuliffe and Jack McLukas. Food Closet Deliveries and Stocking – Norma Brenenstuhl, Iva Durkee, Gary Fitzpatrick, Dick and Mary Frey, Dianne and Rich Hosterman, Dwight Howes, Corinne and Carlton Philpott, George and Alison Pine, Janice and Jerry Tate.
VITA Volunteers are Nancy Childs, Dianne and Rich Hosterman, Susan Landry, Alison Pine, Tom Scholis, Marion Stevens and Becky Watson.
Community Support Groups are Hoosick Falls Central School, St. Mary’s Academy, Girl Scout Troops 1144 and 1313, Boy Scout Troops #64 and #65. Hoosick Area Post Offices, Hoosick Lions Club, Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, Hoosick Falls Republicans, St. Stanislaw Society and the Hoosick Falls Kiwanis Club.