Pull weeds, trim hedges, rake leaves, remove trash or help plant 2,000 daffodil bulbs. The 12th annual John Calvin Toll Community Service Day, during which students, faculty and staff join city leaders and residents to spruce up Schenectady, takes place Saturday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m.- noon.
“It's always wonderful to see the Union College community working side by side with our neighbors,” said Gretchel Hathaway Tyson, director of the Kenney Community Center, which coordinates the event with the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, Schenectady Promise and local volunteers.
Named for one of Union's first graduates in 1799, John Calvin Toll Day is supported by Al Hill '46 of Buffalo and his wife, Perrie. Toll was Hill's great-great-grandfather.
Individuals and groups – such as Minerva Houses, student, athletic, business and community groups – are encouraged to join members of the Pre-Health Society, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and Psi Upsilon Fraternity, who have already signed up. Residential Life will once again sponsor a pizza party for the Greek house and the residence hall floor with the highest Toll Day participation.
Volunteers will meet at Old Chapel at 9:30 a.m. to receive assignments and board buses. For details, contact Angela Blair at blaira@union.edu.