Fred Schaeffer, a lawyer who doubles as a cycling, history and photography enthusiast, has been the lead figure in pioneering and promoting the renovation of the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge. After the bridge evolved into Walkway Over the Hudson, Fred has continued to bolster support and excitement about the bridge by expanding the Walkway’s appeal with events, by acting as a consultant concerning economic development around the bridge, and by lobbying for Dutchess County to connect the Walkway to the Dutchess Rail Trail.

Rob Ranieri has taken CAPE to a new level. Under his leadership the Board has grown from five to 16 members. The Board has been trained in governance and fund development, has completed our Strategic Plan and is in the process of obtaining New York State approval for the development of an operational foundation which will address the deficit-funded status of the agency.

Senior Girl Scout Troop 15 do not spend Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday or President's Day, both days off from school, shopping or playing video games. You will find them at the Lunch Box, a soup kitchen program of Dutchess Outreach, preparing and serving a meal for 150-200 people. For the last eight years, the troop has planned, shopped, prepared, and served at the Lunch Box. This is no easy task. They have to plan the menus, purchase the food, arrive early to prepare, serve for two hours, and then clean-up. For one serving, they make 10 pans of a main dish with a garden salad, pasta salad, dessert, etc. They also give fruit, hard boiled eggs, etc. to people as they are leaving knowing this may be the only meal they have that day. One summer, the troop maintained a vegetable garden and donated tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers,and potatoes to the Lunch Box. They wanted fresh produce to be available for the meals. The girls from the troop help put together a how-to booklet for other troops and youth groups wanting to volunteer at the Lunch Box. When not helping in the Lunch Box, the troop has held food drives, personal item drives, and diaper/formula drives for the Dutchess Outreach Food Pantry.

Thomas assists people with disabilities at Abilities First's onsite supervised workshop in the assembly and packaging of subcontracted materials so they may gain vocational skills that will give them opportunities for employment in the community and enhance their self esteem.

To many people preparing their personal income taxes can often be confusing, complicated and costly. For low income individuals the process is further hampered if they are unable to pay to have their taxes prepared. Because of these obstacles many people do not file thus missing out on important credits and or refunds and still others file incorrectly and do not receive the money they are entitled to. For many Dutchess County families receiving these credits and refunds mean the difference between living above or below the poverty line. As a volunteer for AARP Tax-Aide for the past six years Barbara Kaiser has assisted hundreds of Dutchess County residents file their taxes. It may be a retired senior on limited income who needs to file their taxes to ensure they receive the Enhanced Star Credit or a working family who would have missed out on receiving valuable tax credits and refunds if not for her assistance.

The group provides a soup, sandwich, & dessert lunch on the third Thursday of each month Oct.- May for $6.00 and all proceeds go to a local charity. Christina brought the idea to the church, convinced the Vestry to try the idea, and spearheads the group. They do the shopping, cooking, serving, set up, clean up, advertising, and are the direct contacts with the sponsored group each month.

Yearly Dana helps coordinate holiday outreach for over 200 children involved in our program to ensure each child receives a special holiday gift. Throughout the year she goes from store to store applying for food & clothing donations to help provide assistance to the developmentally delayed parents participating in our Special Needs Parenting Program. Having a Special Education background Dana has volunteered her services as an educational advocate attending CPSE / CSE meetings with our developmentally delayed mothers ensuring they understand what is being offered to their children from the schools. She attends our weekly parenting classes helping our parents to read and write during the classes. She often provides us with extra hours of hands on service during our child enhancment program improving childrens developmental akills.

After retiring in 2004 as a school teacher of 36 years, John became a “worker bee” board member for the Community Resources and Service Center, Inc. (informally known as the Resource Center). He actively participates in board meetings, serves on the property committee, and is known for showing up with his own tools to do minor fixes in addition to organizing bids and supervising larger projects. He recently spent last fall researching a new car for transportation that would meet the needs of residents to medical appointments but also be more fuel efficient. John drives Pawling residents to medical appointments, unloads deliveries of food/toys and oversees all of the property management of the office building. When the Resource Center has a fund-raising event, John is the “go to person” for designing and posting road event signage, moving equipment, clean-up as well as participating in person and with his checkbook. His presence in the community and investment of time and energy on behalf of the organization serve as a shining example for future volunteer recruitment and board development.

As the leader of the Mid-Hudson affiliate Linda has been active in the greater Poughkeepsie area, advocating for youngsters in school. Created the Rose is a Rose program for fifth grade girls; Brother to Brother for secondary male students; tutoring ; etiquette program for middle school and high school students to prepare them for proper grooming as they transition into society.

Also helpful in organizing data, did shifts on Half Moon boat during quad. Willing to do projects at home to help with events, conferences. Always showed iniative in making operation more efficient.