Last Updated by: LBrown on 7/27/2023 7:12:59 AM

2026 Community Service Opportunities

Help sort donated bottles and cans by manufacturer, container type and size to be turned in for eight cents rather than the usual five cent deposit.

Please let Jim VanBuren know if you plan to attend at jimvb44@gmail.com
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 2/27/2026 6:29:13 AM

The AGA Albany Chapter will assist the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in sorting and packing food and non-food donations. Donations come in all forms and often need to be sorted before they can be distributed. That’s where volunteers come in. The Regional Food Bank receives donations of dry, frozen, and refrigerated food; paper products; household items; personal hygiene products; school supplies; diapers; and more that need to be repacked into useable, family-sized packages. The Regional Food Bank has been helping to feed the poor and hungry in our communities since 1982. It is the only organization of its kind in northeastern New York. The Food Bank collects large donations of food from the food industry and distributes it to charitable agencies serving hungry and disadvantaged people in 23 counties. From Plattsburgh to Newburgh, in urban, rural, and suburban communities, the Food Bank provides over 55 million pounds of food a year to 1,000 agencies. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks.

All volunteers are required to wear closed toed shoes. Children age 12 and under, must be accompanied by an adult.

If you'd like to join us, please contact Jim VanBuren at jimvb44@gmail.com
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 2/27/2026 6:30:25 AM

Join the AGA team for The Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Schenectady!

The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Join more than 50,000 participants at 80 events across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.

Saturday, May 9, 2026
Check-In: 10:00 AM
Opening Ceremonies: 12:00 PM
Walk: 12:30 PM
Celebrate until 2:00 PM

Location
Central Park, Schenectady
500 Iroquois Way, Schenectady, NY 12309

Walk Route
Approximately 1 mile

Join our AGA Best Buddies Team

For more information, contact Jim VanBuren or Melissa Fiore
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 3/31/2026 6:15:17 AM

Date/Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026 - 5pm to 9pm (earlier if helping with Set-up and later if helping with Clean-up)
Location: Lot at 102 Ferry St., Troy, NY (Across from Sunhee's Farm & Kitchen)

The Albany Chapter of the AGA will be assisting at the 518sian--TroyAsia Night Market at Lot at 102 Ferry St., Troy, NY on May 30th. 518sian is an all-volunteer, Asian-led initiative which brings together and celebrates the Asian American community in the Capital Region. They launched AAPI Heritage Month 518 in May 2024 to build community, understanding, and inclusion through events held during the month of May and need help with set-up, during, and with clean-up at their food festival at TroyAsia Night Market.

Join us in helping at the outdoor Asian food festival at the TroyAsia Night Market

For this event, volunteers are needed for:
--Set-up before the event begins--assist with the set-up, which includes helping bring everything out and setting things up--lights, tables, benches, chairs, signage, etc...

--During the event--pickup of garbage and empty bottles, etc...

--Clean-up after the event--help at the end of the night breaking down all that was put up and putting it back into storage.

Please contact Lai-Yee Yau at laiyeeyau@gmail.com to sign-up to volunteer or if you have any questions.

Folks can show up at any time that night, but the key will be to stay later - to assist with the clean-up (which last year, lasted about 1 hour).
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 5/20/2026 10:58:28 AM

The 26th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge 5K & 10K and Kids Fun Run
Saturday, Sep 26, 2026
Saratoga Spa State Park, Columbia Pavilion, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY
Event is 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
AGA Albany Team Members Meet at 9:00 am at the Pavilion
Race Starts at 9:30 am

Come join the AGA Albany Chapter in support of Saratoga Bridges at the 26th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge! Saratoga Bridges serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Their mission is to advocate and support people by emphasizing choice and community engagement. By participating we will help fund vital programs and services.

The race begins at 9:30am and participants can run or walk the 5K & 10K or Kids Fun Run. We plan to meet at 9:00 am to run or walk together. The event costs $30 per 5K & 10K registration through 9/14/26, $35 per virtual and per 5K & 10K registration from 9/15 to 9/23, and Kids are $10. Also, the first 1,200 participants receive a moisture wicking long-sleeve t-shirt. The event includes costume and pumpkin contests, prizes for overall winners, and top runners in each age group.

If you'd like to join us, be sure to register under the "AGA Albany Chapter" team. The password is ‘AGA’. Bring your family, invite your colleagues, and let's represent the AGA while helping our community celebrate inclusion, fun, and the spirit of giving back.

26th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge Fundraising Campaign for Saratoga Bridges - Giveffect

It’s a wonderful day that supports a great cause! We hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Melissa Fiore at Melissa.Fiore@health.ny.gov or Layli Deitz at ldeitz@osc.ny.gov or Christi Martin at cmartin@osc.ny.gov
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 9/9/2026 7:54:09 AM

Currently, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and over 11 million family and friends provide their unpaid care. Help is needed to end this devastating disease. We can make an impact by joining our community for this Walk to End Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2026

Check In: 10:00 AM

AGA Participants Meet: 10:30 AM

Ceremony: 11:00 AM

Walk: Immediately Following Ceremony

Route Length: Main Walk Route 1.3 Miles or Mini Walk .25 Miles

Location: Siena University, Loudonville, NY 12211

Please register to join our team – 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Albany, NY: Albany AGA Walk to End Alzheimer's

Currently, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and over 11 million family and friends provide their unpaid care. Help is needed to end this devastating disease. We can make an impact by joining our community for this Walk to End Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

All funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer's furthers the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.

There is no fee for Walk to End Alzheimer’s events, but fundraising is highly encouraged. The Alzheimer's Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Every registered participant who achieves the fundraising minimum of $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer's T-shirt via USPS. To receive a shirt in time for Walk day, participants must raise the T-shirt minimum at least four weeks prior to the event.

If you are not able to walk, volunteers are needed to help on the day of the event.

Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, clean-up, registration, water stops, Promise Garden and so much more. All interested volunteers should visit the Walk to End Alzheimer's volunteer page for more information about event day roles and responsibilities.

Walk is a rain or shine event.

It’s a wonderful day that supports a great cause! We hope to see you there!
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Last Updated by: LBrown on 9/30/2026 10:02:35 AM