SARATOGA SPRINGS — As part of National Unity Day, students and staff at Maple Avenue Middle School held a school-wide ‘Unity Walk’ on Oct. 18.

Students wrote messages on paper shoes, which were displayed around the school by members of the No Place for Hate Club as the students walked. Students also signed a No Place for Hate pledge. 

National Unity Day is dedicated to promoting acceptance, inclusion, and kindness, said Jen Mead, Maple Ave teacher and advisor of the No Place for Hate Club.

“Leading up to the event, we had our students fill out a paper shoe, with a reference of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes for empathy, where they could jot down anything that was true about their life experience, especially those things we wouldn’t know just by looking at them,” said Mead.

Students walked around the perimeter of the school to view the shoes discussing their classmates’ experiences, and also to view resources and services that can be utilized by students who may be struggling.

Maple Ave offers resources including school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. The school also partners with Behavioral Health Services North to offer in-house therapy and counseling sessions, Mead said. The walk also highlighted services such as the Trevor Project hotline, the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline (988), the Remind app, and the Safe School Helpline.

Following the conclusion of the walk, students signed the No Place for Hate Pledge. Mead added that the Unity Walk was an opportunity not only for students to share their experiences, but also help them realize they are not alone in their struggles.

“So many kids shared similar experiences. Hopefully, the kids who are struggling are able to not only see those services, but know that they’re not in it alone,” Mead said. “The biggest hope is that it helps to create a climate here where kids are inclusive, and kind, and accepting.”

BALLSTON SPA —The Ballston Spa Central School District will host a Community Resource Fair on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ballston Spa Middle School. The fair will be held in conjunction with the Scotties Closet, an annual event providing free clothing and items to families from the community.

This school community event provides an opportunity for families to meet members of local organizations who serve children and families, according to a release from the district. Community organizations will be available to share resources and discuss their programs in further detail. 

This event is organized by the district’s Social Workers and will be located in the hallway outside of the cafeteria by the school library. The Middle School will host Scottie’s Closet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Middle School Cafeteria.

The participating organizations include Life Works Community Action, Wellspring, CAPTAIN, Parsons, OCFS, McKinney Vento Liaison, and Saratoga County Public Health. Please contact Rebecca Flynt, Elementary School Social Worker, for additional information at 518-884-7290 or via Email at rflynt@bscsd.org.

WILTON — Kelly’s Angels, a Capital Region charity devoted to helping local children and families who are facing loss and grief, announced this week that its annual college scholarship program will expand for 2024 to include students from Lake George and Mechanicville High Schools. 

Twenty-four students from 12 local high schools will each receive $1,500 college scholarships in 2024 from Kelly’s Angels, a press release states. Kelly’s Angels has given out $126,000 in college scholarships since 2016.

Kelly’s Angels was founded in memory of Kelly Mulholland, the late wife of WNYT-NewsChannel 13 anchor/reporter Mark Mulholland. Kelly died in 2007 at age 37, after a long struggle with breast cancer. She was an elementary school teacher, and one of her first teaching jobs was in Lake George. 

“The Lake George and Mechanicville communities have wrapped their arms around Kelly’s Angels, and we are excited to be able to help students in each district,” Mark Mulholland stated in the release. “Lake George is the site of our annual Kelly’s Angels Summer-Lovin’ Fest each July, so it’s fitting that we can now provide scholarships to Lake George High seniors who have persevered in the face of adversity.” 

“Kelly’s Angels has brought vital help and needed smiles to the faces of Lake George children and families battling illness and we’re honored that they’re also now helping our graduating students who’ve persevered in the face of adversity,” said Lake George High School Principal Francis Cocozza in the release.

Students from Lake George, Mechanicville, Queensbury, Whitehall, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, Stillwater, Shenendehowa, Saratoga Catholic, South Glens Falls, Fort Edward and Hoosic Valley will be eligible for Kelly’s Angels scholarships in 2024, the release states.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A kids’ pickleball tournament established by a local student is drawing strong community participation and raising money for cancer research and awareness.

The tournament was created by Gabe Stein, a seventh-grade student at Maple Avenue Middle School, and will be held Oct. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Saratoga Regional YMCA. Proceeds raised will benefit the American Cancer Society.

It was initially organized as part of Stein’s Bar Mitzvah project, with the goal of giving back to the community. 

“I thought it would be something extra to do, because a Bar Mitzvah, you’re becoming an adult, and part of becoming an adult is being responsible and giving back to your community,” Stein said. “I think it’s going to be really fun, and I think it’s also going to a really good cause.”

The tournament for middle school-aged students has seen a strong response, easily surpassing the original goals for both its fundraising total and the amount of teams participating.

“Our original goal for teams was 15 teams, and we ended up getting over 15 in a matter of three days, which was really surprising,” said Stein. “I think, as of (Tuesday), we’ve had 23 teams.”

The tournament was capped at a maximum of 24 teams to ensure each team will have ample time to play. Stein said he felt the American Cancer Society would be a strong beneficiary due to the widespread impact of cancer.

“I think the American Cancer Society was a really good choice, because there’s a lot of people that know people, and a lot of people that are suffering from cancer at the moment,” said Stein. “Maybe our donation will help.”

The tournament is open to kids, and costs $20 per team, or $10 per individual. The tournament originally had a fundraising goal of $300, Stein said, but this was eclipsed almost immediately after a donation from CDPHP. 

“The first day of fundraising, we got a donation from CDPHP, and we already passed our goal with that,” said Stein.

The tournament is also supported by other sponsors including Ortho NY, Keller Williams, Szurek Chiropractic, and the Saratoga YMCA, which is allowing the tournament to utilize its space for no cost.

Kim Stein, Gabe’s mother, added that many of his friends and other local kids have also pitched in. Gabe and several friends raised over $600 in one day by going door-to-door around his neighborhood, he said.

“There wasn’t one neighbor that I knocked on the door that didn’t donate, which is great,” Gabe Stein said.

They had raised nearly $2,000 in total as of Tuesday, Kim Stein said.

“I think, really, the truth is there’s not a lot of opportunities for kids to be involved in volunteering, especially since COVID,” said Kim Stein. “I think there’s been a lot of involvement, because parents really want their kids to be a part of this. And the kids love feeling a part of something.”

She said the tournament has come together quickly, with a majority of the planning occurring within the last month. 

“It’s probably been a month. Everything then had to happen really quickly,” Kim Stein said. “And he did have some help. He had a conversation with someone at the American Cancer Society, who gave him some suggestions for how to get people involved, and how to go about planning, and sponsorships.”

Gabe also said he told Maple Ave principal Scott Singer about the tournament, which led to its inclusion in the school announcements. Kim Stein said it was meaningful to see Gabe take the initiative of planning and organizing, noting that he and his friends have set up the tournament almost entirely by themselves.

“He’s working on getting the equipment that we need, borrowing from the gym,” Kim Stein said. “There are aspects that I’ve helped out with, but for the most part, he and his friends have done it together.”

She also emphasized the wide range of support shown from the community.

“I think the best part was when they came back from collecting money around the neighborhood, and they said it was more fun than trick-or-treating,” said Kim Stein. “To know that kids really get enjoyment out of this, and just having a lot of people reach out saying that they heard about this. It’s so nice, with all the negative stuff that happens in the world, to see kids doing something so good, and getting so excited about it.”

Gabe Stein said that, ultimately, his goal is for people to enjoy themselves and support a good cause.

“I hope people have a good time, and understand what they’re donating to,” Gabe Stein said.

QUEENSBURY — A group of students from Saratoga Central Catholic School recently volunteered at the Harvest for Health & Happiness Gala for Double H Ranch, held Sept. 23 at The Great Escape Theme Park. Students who volunteered included Nacy DeVincenzo, Hunter Fales, Carson Moser, Emery Moser, Marin Walbridge, Ava Brown, and Rylee Cornell.