AmeriCorps Martin Luther King
“Celebrating Community Volunteers” Event

The Self Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) of the Capital/North Region and its AmeriCorps team were proud to hold the first annual “Celebrating Community Volunteers” event. The event was held to honor the contributions that individuals with disabilities have made on their community through the power and perseverance of selfless volunteerism.

The event was held at the SANYS offices at 500 Balltown Road Building 5C in Schenectady New York from 10:30 in the morning until 12 noon on January 22nd 2010. During the event four different groups were honored for their service to the capital district of New York State. There was also a surprise for the members of the 2009 AmeriCorps team at the end of the event.

In the opening of the event, the importance of volunteering was highlighted along with how volunteerism relates to the important work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Matt Pezzula and Tom Techman were generous enough to sing the national anthem and to also lead the audience in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

The first person to be honored was Alexa Wyszomirski. She is a junior at Colonie Central High School. Alexa has Spina Bifida but that does not prevent her from volunteering.  She is very busy with academics, but she still finds the time to volunteer with the wounded warrior campaign through Stride Inc., is actively involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and raised money for the Spina Bifida Association by selling teal colored ribbons created by the art club at school. Alexa was busy with school work and could not attend the event so we taped her acceptance speech and aired it during the ceremony.

Shameka Andrews was the next person to be honored. Shameka is an exceptional volunteer. She volunteers at many different kinds of events. Among her many volunteer activities she serves on the board of the Spina Bifida Association. She also serves on the DME committee for the Department of Heath, and she is a State Wide Projects Assistant for SANYS. Shameka has also serves as a volunteer for Alive at 5 events in Albany where she lives. Shameka was also named Miss Wheelchair New York in 2006 and she actively volunteers with the Miss Wheelchair New York Association as well.

Bob Zwelleger was the third person to be honored at the event. Bob serves as a board member for the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley. Bob also participates in Renssealer Arc’s Community Inclusion Project, which allows him to actively serve in his community. Bob delivers mail to the residents of Troy’s Eddy Heritage House.  He also volunteers at the Troy Senior Center by assisting them with their lunch program.  Troy Library is another group Bob serves as he assists them with clerical support. Bob is also active with the Knights of Columbus.

Last, but certainly not least, the Life Prep II program of Schenectady ARC was honored for their volunteer activities. Life Prep II volunteers at the Salvation Army by assisting in their lunch program by wrapping silverware and preparing buttered bread.  Additionally at the American Red Cross the life prep II contributes their time helping in the office by performing a variety of clerical tasks and assisting with mailings. At the Regional Food Bank, the group helps sort donations. The team also worked as bell ringers for the Salvation Army during the 2009 holiday season. In the summertime, they volunteer with the Boys and Girls club summer lunch program.  Accepting the award for the group was Mary Langelier.

Also accepting awards from SANYS were Shawn Fultz, Matt Pezzula and Mary Langelier for successfully completing 900 hours of community service with AmeriCorps in 2009.

It was a very successful event and we hope to expand it in the years to come.

Shawn Fultz
AmeriCorps Team Leader