Scappaticci Recognizes Volunteer Efforts
By Stephen E. Lipken
Harrison Supervisor Thomas Scappaticci opened the Thursday, April 9th Board meeting, announcing that April was Volunteer Appreciation Month. “Tonight I want to recognize the people who make our community what it is, and that is our volunteers,” Scappaticci began. “Everything we do in community services is powered by our volunteers; for example, Meals on Wheels (MOW).
“Our MOW volunteers deliver about 62 meals every week and spend a lot of time with our seniors; in some cases that may be the only friendly face that these seniors may see that day. Sometimes that moment changes their life.”
Scappaticci noted that MOW volunteers’ interaction with World War II veterans facilitate their securing veteran benefits, finding a safe home and finally, securing a dignified military burial.
“We also have the Harrison Food Pantry, whose volunteers distributed about 48,400 pounds of food in 2025, serving an average of 114 households each month.
“The Sustainability Committee and Pollinator Pathway runs the Food Scrap Initiative, spring cleanup, compost giveback, acorns to oaks and they create the plantings that greet us at the Police Department, Libraries and Town entryway. Regarding acorns to oaks, it will be possible to pick up a tree to plant during Great to Live in Harrison Day on Sunday, October 11th .
“Volunteers with the Harrison Youth Council help to lead an organization that offers our youth sustainability, job resources and place to turn to during a crisis. And finally, in collaboration with the Harrison Central School District, Functional Academic Skills Education (FASE) focuses on life skills and independence, preparing the students for meaningful work after graduation.
“Each year the FASE program at Harrison High School sends us students to work with us at the Food Pantry and Harrison Children’s Center,” Scapaticci said.
Scappaticci then awarded Certificates of Appreciation and small gifts to FASE students Sammy Saes, Nicholas Cardona-Gomez and Lexi Gullo, Harrison Children’s Center.