29
of
60
Acts of Service
Completed
Community participated, donated, and worked the event. Raised funds to provide services to the Herkimer County business community. I donated money, goods and services to this event. I worked the breakfast bar, maned various vendor booths to provide relief, made food deliveries, and presided over the final raffles.
As part of its commitment to community service and the arts, Herkimer County Community College hosted the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts and First Stage for a weeklong youth theater program. The College also served as the venue for two free public performances of Disney’s The Lion King Jr. in the Sarkus-Busch Theater.
As part of its commitment to community outreach, Herkimer County Community College Media and Communication faculty held a content creation and social media workshop for local real estate agents, providing practical guidance to help them strengthen their digital presence and market their services more effectively.
Herkimer County Community College installed the Fallen Stars Tribute to honor the New York state service members who lost their lives while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The tribute stands as a solemn reminder of their courage, service and sacrifice.
As part of its commitment to community service, the Herkimer County Community College Athletics Department hosted a free weeklong summer sports clinic on campus, giving local youth the opportunity to stay active, develop their athletic skills.
As part of Herkimer County Community College’s 60 Acts of Service initiative, members of the campus community volunteered at Fire Palooza, a Fourth of July event celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence.
Members of the Executive Cabinet recently participated in the beautification of the village of Herkimer, demonstrating their commitment to community engagement and pride in the area we serve. By volunteering their time and working together to help improve shared public spaces, the group contributed to ongoing efforts to keep Herkimer welcoming and vibrant for residents, students, and visitors alike.
Herkimer College faculty and staff volunteered at the Utica Zoo, helping beautify the grounds ahead of upcoming events while preserving plants in the garden beds that support environmental conservation efforts.
Volunteers painted the upper half of the kitchen walls at The Salvation Army, helping refresh and improve the space for staff, volunteers, and community members.
During the first few weeks of May, our Outdoor Adventure/Green Club came together for a cause close to all of our hearts: supporting the Herkimer Humane Society. Thanks to the incredible kindness of our local community, we were flooded with donations and collected about 10 massive bags of returnable bottles and cans!
Our amazing club members rolled up their sleeves, loaded up the vehicles, and spent some quality time together sorting and redeeming everything at R D's Mountain View Bottle and Can Redemption Center. Every single cent raised from the drive is going straight to the Humane Society to help feed, shelter, and care for local animals waiting for their forever homes.
As part of Phi Theta Kappa’s ongoing community service efforts, former PTK member Jeremy Bell and Josh Belisle recently cleaned a section of Route 5 that the organization adopted several years ago. During the cleanup, they collected four bags of litter along a quarter-mile stretch of roadway, helping to keep the local community clean and welcoming.
The area had become overgrown and was in need of a makeover. By assisting with the cleanup efforts, students and professors helped significantly reduce the time needed to complete the project, making a meaningful impact for Valley Health Services staff and residents.
Faculty from the second floor of the CA building recently came together to support the Loaves and Fishes Warming Center by collecting toiletries, new clothing, and gently used items for donation. The center provides free clothing and hygiene products to individuals in need, serving the homeless and working poor throughout Herkimer County.
This effort was organized by Professors Jane Verri, Lisa Calli, Cynthia Gabriel, April Harris, Katie Stables, and Jason Brown
On Tuesday, May 5, the HCCC Business Club completed one of its 60 Acts of Service initiatives by visiting and collaborating with Ms. Sarah Barnes’ business class at Little Falls High School. The session provided an opportunity for students to engage in an informative and collaborative discussion focused on business, leadership, and community engagement. Representing the HCCC Business Club were Ordella Henderson, Julia Frasier, Isabella Bedworth, and Hannah Decker.
The Rainbow Alliance Club helped organize a drag show on campus in collaboration with the community group HOPE – the Herkimer Organization for Pride and Equality. Admission was free for students, while community members could attend for $10 or $5 with a non-perishable food donation.
The event raised $330 for the Trans Continental Pipeline and resulted in five large bags of food being donated to the General’s Cupboard.
The diaper drive helped provide local families with an essential but often expensive necessity. The organization was deeply moved by the community’s generosity and grateful that the donations will directly support the families they serve.
Members of the CHHS Club launched a community outreach initiative after recognizing that many teachers were personally covering the cost of essential items for students, from school supplies to daily snacks.
After identifying the most-needed items, students organized a collection effort by creating a targeted donation list and placing collection boxes across campus to gather contributions from the college community.
Members of the Campus Safety and Grounds Crew participated in a local park and playground clean-up effort to help prepare the area for the spring season. Their work included picking up litter, raking leaves, clearing sticks and debris, edging grass around waste receptacles, and completing general outdoor maintenance to help keep the community space clean and welcoming.
The Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter at Herkimer County Community College recently organized a meaningful visit with veterans residing at Foltsbrook Center.
Students brought patriotic cupcakes from the campus cafeteria and served them during a heartfelt storytelling session. Prior to the visit, students prepared thoughtful questions to help guide conversations, creating an engaging and respectful dialogue between generations.
The event sparked powerful discussions, with veterans sharing personal experiences, historical perspectives, and reflections on current events. Conversations also touched on modern topics such as social media and artificial intelligence, offering students valuable insight into differing viewpoints.
The experience was both educational and emotional, leaving a lasting impact on everyone involved. The group looks forward to continuing this connection and plans to return for another visit in the fall.
The Herkimer County Community College baseball team helped organize and participate in a baseball skills clinic that brought together Herkimer Little League players and the Herkimer Generals baseball.
During the two-hour session, young athletes rotated through drills focused on batting, fielding, and throwing, while receiving hands-on instruction and encouragement from the college players. The clinic created a positive and engaging environment where participants could build their skills, gain confidence, and connect with student-athletes.
The event highlighted the value of mentorship and community engagement, providing a rewarding experience for both the youth players and the Herkimer team members.
Members helped organize and participate in a community baseball skills clinic that brought together Herkimer Little League players and the Herkimer men’s baseball team for an afternoon of instruction and mentorship. During the two-hour event, young athletes practiced batting, fielding, and throwing while receiving hands-on guidance and encouragement from the college players. The clinic provided an opportunity for participants to build confidence, improve their skills, and deepen their appreciation for the game, while also strengthening connections within the local baseball community and highlighting the importance of teamwork, leadership, and giving back.
-
On April 8, 2026, the Herkimer County Community College Psychology Club partnered with the Little Falls Public Library to assist with a large-scale inventory project as the library transitions to a new database system. Students Olivia Stromecki and Shiloh Evans, along with Professors Calli and Verri, worked alongside staff to scan materials, organize books, and help reenter records not currently in the system, supporting the library’s efforts to improve access to resources for the community.
On April 1, 2026, the Herkimer County Community College women’s soccer team partnered with OESJ Elementary to lead a physical activity session for students. The visit promoted healthy movement, teamwork, and problem-solving through group-based activities, creating a positive and engaging experience for participants.
As an act of service to the community, Herkimer County Community College recently hosted the American Red Cross for a campus blood drive, collecting 13 units of blood to help patients in need. Of those donations, six were Type O — the blood type most in demand during shortages — and two came from first-time donors, helping expand the future donor base. Two units also contributed to a more diverse blood supply, which can be especially important for patients who require closely matched blood due to rare blood types or conditions such as sickle cell disease. Each donation helps strengthen the blood supply and supports lifesaving care for patients facing emergencies and other medical needs.
Five members of the HCCC staff/faculty (Aileen Judd, Katie Stables, Jeff Steele, Amy Getman, Stephen Sydoriw), along with several volunteers from the Friends of Basloe Library and two Herkimer High School students, came together to help the Basloe Library prepare for its upcoming construction projects. We moved two entire collections of books (Teen and Genealogy) from their areas and relocated them to clear the way for renovations in those rooms. The former cafe area will be turned into a Teen room, and the former Genealogy room will be turned into two small study rooms.
In addition to moving the books, we also moved nine bookcases for the Genealogy collection, including moving all the genealogy books onto a cart, dusting all the shelves, moving each tall bookcase into the Washburn Room, and then reassembling the shelves and placing the books back in the correct order.
On March 6, 2026, Isabella Fasolo, Rosalie Sadallah, and Colleen Bentley-Ciccone volunteered with Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. to transform their meeting room into an organized, functional storage space for event materials. Over the course of four volunteer hours, the team sorted supplies into clearly labeled bins and relocated them to a designated storage area, making it easier for staff to access items for their frequent community events.
This project not only created a lasting impact by improving efficiency and reducing planning stress for the organization, but also provided a rewarding experience for the volunteers, who were grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in supporting the important work of hospice care in our community.
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Club hosted a Wellness Fair in the Cogar Gallery, engaging the campus community along with local guests, administrators, and board members. Led by Elizabeth Pogonowski, 16 student volunteers shared information on a variety of wellness topics, offering educational materials and take-home resources to support healthier lifestyles. Attendees also experienced hands-on services such as hand and back massages and paraffin treatments, allowing students to showcase the skills they’ve developed in their program. The event highlighted the importance of wellness in improving quality of life while demonstrating how physical therapy can support overall well-being, creating a meaningful, interactive experience for both participants and the community.
Members of the Cabinet partnered with the Lions Club on May 16 to place flags on veterans’ graves at Oak Hill and Calvary cemeteries in honor of those who served our country. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help recognize and remember our local veterans ahead of Memorial Day.
During the first few weeks of May, our Outdoor Adventure/Green Club came together to support a cause close to our hearts: Herkimer County Humane Society. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our local community, the club collected nearly 10 large bags of returnable bottles and cans through a successful donation drive.
Club members worked together to load, sort, and redeem the donations at R D's Mountain View Bottle and Can Redemption Center. Every dollar raised from the effort will go directly toward helping the Humane Society provide food, shelter, and care for local animals awaiting their forever homes.