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WSPS hosts appreciation luncheon for its drivers

9 Oct

The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters (WSPS) hosted its Annual Volunteer Driver Appreciation Luncheon last Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Webster Golf Club, where they honored their 71 volunteer drivers.

Based at the Webster Recreation Center, WSPS is a group of volunteers who, for 16 years now, have provided transportation for retirees and disabled residents who live within the Webster School District. They help residents get to and from medical and dental appointments, hair and tax preparation appointments and, the bank and the Webster Public Library. WSPS’ drivers play a meaningful part in the lives of the many riders who rely on WSPS to get them to their appointments. The rides are an affordable alternative to more expensive ride options, enabling the riders to live more independently, and are a great example of neighbors helping neighbors.

WSPS volunteers typically drive more than 49,000 miles each year, volunteer more than 3500 hours and provide more than 3800 rides. Riders are asked for a small donation of $5 for rides in Webster and $10 for rides outside of Webster. The money collected is used to pay the WSPS dispatchers and for office supplies.

Almost 90 drivers, dispatchers, board members and special guests attended the buffet luncheon, with a celebratory cake donated by BJ’s. Every driver received a gift bag stuffed with gift certificates and goodies, and won a raffle prize, all donated by generous local business owners.

WSPS is one of those volunteer organizations here in Webster that don’t get a whole lot of press or attention, but are making a huge difference in our community. 71 drivers might seem like a lot, but with the number of seniors and disabled folks in the Webster School District increasing, they’re always in need of more volunteers. For more information on how you can join the team, call 585-216-7829 or visit the group’s website. Monetary contributions are also more than welcome, and go to support the WSPS operating budget.

Here are a few more photos from the afternoon, courtesy Dave Norton:

The dispatchers
WSPS President, Mike Donovan
Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone

Here’s an easy and fun way to help!

WSPS is hosting an indoor craft sale on Saturday Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. They’re expecting more LOTS OF vendors, so make sure to add this one to your holiday shopping calendar.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/9/2026)

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What are those skeletons up to THIS year?

8 Oct

When the skeletons show up on Holt Rd., you know it’s almost Halloween.

Anyone who regularly travels down Holt Rd. is almost certainly familiar with the imaginative skeleton display erected every year at the corner of Holt and Klem roads. They’re the work of George Baker and Melissa Baker and their family, and for the last four years they’ve been bringing smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.

George started erecting monstrous skeletons in his front yard for Halloween in October, 2023. At first, it was just one really big one, the big daddy of them all, standing a full 12 feet tall. That humongous skeleton alone, with its glowing eyes, drew a lot of comments and happy honking from the drivers passing by. So of course, he couldn’t stop there.

Every Halloween since, that Big Daddy skeleton has returned, joined by an ever-growing supporting cast. And each year, the menagerie is set up in a brand new creative and humorous display. Last year, the skeletons were recklessly competing in a bike race. The year before, they were playing on a playground and splashing in a kiddie pool.

This year, it seems the skeletons have stopped playing and finally found gainful employment. This Halloween they’ve taken on the roles of construction workers. A dozen 6-foot skeletons and two monstrous ones make up this year’s display, complete with bright orange construction vests and hard hats. A few are stopping traffic, several are peering at a skull which has appeared in the hole they’ve dug, one is climbing a pole, one is on his lunch break, and another (holding a clipboard) is clearly the supervisor. The two monstrous skeletons are keeping a close eye on the whole scene.

George Baker, who was a utility worker before he retired, came up with the idea way back in January. They were able to purchase all the hard hats and vests they needed on Amazon (even the huge ones, sizes 4X and 5X). And since the costumes came in sets of 12, they had to add a few more smaller skeletons to wear them.

As the season approached, finalizing the details was truly a family effort. Everyone pitched in with ideas as the project progressed. Then they all got together on Sunday Oct. 4 to put the whole scene together, in a work session which began at 11 a.m. and continued until after dark.

Melissa Baker wrote, “It is a lot of work, but well worth the joy and pleasure it brings to all who drive by. As we set up, people are honking, hooting and hollering and giving us a thumbs up. It’s great to see the smiles on everyone’s face. All the positive comments on social media also make our efforts well worth every minute. It is a great family bonding activity also.”

Thanks so much to George and Melissa Baker and their dedicated team of helpers: Ryan Moorman, Brendan Moorman, Nolan Moorman, Richard Moorman, Alicia Moorman, Brianna Bouwens and Chad Baker. Your efforts are bringing smiles to everyone who passes by.

Check out the display for yourself. It’s located at the corner of Holt and Klem Rds., and you are more than welcome to stop by and take a selfie.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/8/2026)

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A quick update on “Returns for a Reason”

28 Sep

You all remember Pierson Farina.

He’s the Spry Middle School 7th grader who established his own fund-raising operation a little over a year ago which he calls “Returns for a Reason.” His goal is to collect returnables from family members, neighbors, schoolmates, strangers — anyone and everyone — and every time he raises a good chunk of money, he donates it to some worthy organization.

Since Pierson started Returns for a Reason, he has raised $1,550, which he’s donated to several community agencies: The Webster Volunteer Fire Department, Lollypop Farm, Honor Flight Rochester, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Tunnels to Towers. He also saw a need at his school, Spry Middle School, and donated $300.00 for them to purchase more bike racks for the many kids that ride their bikes to school. 

Most recently, Pierson presented $250 cash to the Knights of Columbus for their “Coats for Kids” program, to help purchase winter coats for children in need.

If you’d like to help Pierson continue his charitable efforts, stash your returnables in your car, and the next time you’re in the village, drive down Dunning Ave. and look for the green Returns for a Reason bin on the front walk.

Thank you to J. Stewart Coon, Pierson’s very proud grandpa (who also happens to be the chairman of the Coats for Kids effort) for this update. And stay tuned for more information about Coats for Kids coming up very soon.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 9/28/2026)

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Here’s an easy way to help your neighbors in need

26 Sep

There’s a lot of food insecurity in the Town of Webster.

That simple statement surprises many people, because Webster is not considered an impoverished town, by a long shot. But here are a few staggering statistics:

  • 5 percent of Webster’s 45,000 residents lived below the poverty line at the time of the 2020 Census. That’s more than 2,200 people from about 1,000 households across the town.
  • 4.4 percent of families in Webster Central School district with children ages 5-17 – more than 1,140 families – lived in poverty in the 2023-24 school year.
  • 5 percent of households in the school district – 1,300 of them – were eligible for food stamps in the 2023-24 school year.

Fortunately, there are many agencies and volunteers in our area working hard to help our neighbors in need. One of those agencies is the Webster Community Chest which, in addition to hosting individual families and holding regular food giveaway events, has for the last two years adopted the Phillips Village Food Pantry.  

The Community Chest volunteers behind that effort are looking for other caring neighbors to join their team. Here’s a message I received from Kathy Taddeo, one of those volunteers:

HELPING THE FOOD INSECURE IN WEBSTER

Have you been wondering how you might help the food insecurity issue in Webster?  Maybe you’ve not much available time and need a flexible schedule but don’t know where to find a program that fits?

The 14 Phillips Village Pantry Volunteers are ready to welcome new members.  

This congenial group began as a Webster Community Chest program in 2024 with four deliveries a month.  Currently, the program delivers food to Phillips Village, Webster’s largest subsidized housing community three to four times a week, year-round.  

Once a month, each volunteer purchases, donates and delivers food to the inside and/or outside pantries near the office of this lovely 500-unit neighborhood. The team meets once a year to reconnect with each other, review the past year and plan to grow and improve the next year’s program.

If this sounds like it might fit into your life, please contact the Webster Community Chest at 671-2060 or webcommchest@gmail.org.  Please leave a message with your name and phone number or email and your interest in the Phillips Village Pantry. Kathy will get back to you with details and an opportunity to ask questions. 

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/25/2026)

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Florence Kinney (“Mrs. Claus”) could use our help

23 Sep

When last we heard from Florence Kinney, Webster’s “Mrs. Claus,” it was November 2022, when I wrote a blog about how this amazing woman had just achieved her equally amazing goal of delivering 100,000 gifts to children in need.

Florence Kinney is the driving force behind a grassroots ministry which she calls “Santa’s Workshop,” dedicated to bringing presents to children who might not get many gifts, or anything, for Christmas. It began in 2003, with the purchase of just two toy trucks for two brothers who would be spending Christmas in the hospital. The effort grew every year, to the point where, four years ago, she had distributed more than 100,000 gifts. (Click here to read more about Florence and how she got started.)

But there was no way she was going to stop there. Now in her 37th year of ministry, Santa’s Workshop has provided more than 112,000 gifts to local hospitals, Williamson Come-Unity Center, Cure Childhood Cancer, Ronald McDonald House and other Rochester-area organizations.

Right now, Florence is beginning to ramp up her 2026 effort, and she could use our community’s help. As prices go up on pretty much everything, the cost of games has become more and more challenging (and Florence buys almost all of the gifts she distributes). Her elves have set up an Amazon Wish List where you can purchase items directly. Or if you’d like to go out and shop on your own, the games the hospitals request most are Candyland, Count Your Chickens, Four in a Row, Tic-Tac-Toe, Trouble, Hi-Ho Cherryos and Magna Doodle boards, Uno and Bingo.

Also, if anyone knits baby/child hats (any size), scarves or mittens, Florence likes to include these with her gifts. If you’d like to donate some, the hospitals will certainly appreciate them. 

If you have any questions, feel free to call Gail Fannis at 585-329-6511.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/23/2026)

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Two friends, and their mission to run every street in Webster

2 Aug

For some people, running is a natural passion, a non-negotiable part of their daily routine. For others (like me) it takes a concrete goal just to lace up the sneakers. Two Webster women found a creative way to bridge that gap, doing something that fills both buckets.

Karen Seidel and Angela Oldfield have been running buddies ever since meeting through a Webster Women Runners Facebook group about eight years ago. They meet several times a week somewhere in town and run various distances.

In early 2024, Karen saw a story on the television news that intrigued her. It told of a woman who walked every street in Monroe County. “I knew I didn’t want to do that,” she remembered, “but I started thinking about a goal we could achieve that was not running a marathon, or even half marathon. We could get a map of the Town of Webster and run every street.”

Having set the goal (and getting Angela on board), the first step was to plot the routes. Using a detailed map she secured from Town Hall, plus Google Maps and a program called OntheGoMap.com, Karen starting planning, driving the routes to check details like the route’s distance, where to park, street lights, traffic density, shoulder width and more.

On July 23, 2024, they set their plan in motion with their first run from Dewitt Road Elementary School, guided by directions Karen had written on a 3″ x 5″ card she kept in her pocket.

They started incorporating their goal into their regular routine, eventually shifting the “run every street” runs to the daytime for safety. This also allowed them to actually see the neighborhoods they were running through, which was a major part of their original plan. Every time they completed a route, Karen would color it in on the huge map.

As you can imagine, Karen and Angela learned quite a bit about our little town in their travels. They noticed, for example, that lots of Webster residents own campers and RVs, people are very supportive of the Marching Band bottle and can drive, there are a LOT of deer (and the occasional skunk and horse), and you can smell donuts baking when you run by the cider mills. Most importantly, though, they learned that Webster is a very friendly town. Fellow runners always waved and made a comment about the weather, and one homeowner even let them use her bathroom.

They also discovered some gorgeous neighborhoods. Among their favorites were the Herman Rd. neighborhood, Inspiration Point, and The Bluffs on the west side of the bay.

In general, the whole project went very smoothly, but there were a few hiccups and difficulties. Like last October when they were planning to run six and a half miles, but got talking and forgot to turn around, so they ended up running nine miles instead. Also, running along Empire Blvd. between Five Mile Line and the AMC Theater was “not ideal.”

“We ran those areas early in the morning when there was no traffic,” Karen remembered. Pre-sunrise darkness, heavy rains and blistering heat were other challenges they needed to overcome — or endure.

Are you wondering if they ran down your street during their quest? They got that question a lot.

“When we told people what we were doing (such as dog-walkers or passers-by),” Karen said, “they inevitably started listing street names they knew and asking us if we had run them. The answer is yes.”

Ultimately, the entire project was a journey of discovery on several levels.

“Overall,” Karen said, “we learned so much about our beloved town. We learned there are beautiful trees and gardens all over Webster. There are all kinds of neighborhoods, dog-walkers, and people who sit on their porch drinking coffee and waving hello.” But they also learned how the power of friendship can help you meet a goal and work through life’s challenges together.

“Some of my favorite runs didn’t necessarily have to do with the place we were running,” Angela said. “It was the conversation. Karen and I have helped each other through highs and lows of life. We’ve given each other advice, we’ve supported each other by listening, and have NEVER once canceled on each other.”

At the finish line
Family and friends welcomed them
Highlighting the final route

On Saturday morning, July 25, almost exactly two years after they began their quest, Angela and Karen completed the last of their “run every street” runs. It was a 6.4-mile route that took them through the village and along the Rt. 104 bike path, ending by Village Bakery. Several runner friends joined them and family members met them at the finish line to congratulate them on their incredible achievement.

In total, Karen and Angela ran 89 different routes and more than 476 miles. And while they’re not planning another grand adventure like this anytime soon, they are planning to repeat some of their favorite routes in the future.

“We feel great,” Karen said, and “we got to know our town really well.”

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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 8/2/2026)

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Ellie Songer, Webster Thomas ’16, recognized for excellence in healthcare

29 Jul

Congratulations to 2016 Webster Thomas High School grad Ellie Songer, who was recently awarded a 2026 Future of Healthcare Award from the Greater Bridgeport (CT) Medical Association.

Ellie, who is currently an orthopaedic surgical physician assistant at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, is one of ten recipients of the award this year. It recognizes outstanding healthcare professionals under age 40 who are making a meaningful impact through leadership, innovation, service, and dedication to improving healthcare in the Greater Bridgeport (CT) region.

After graduating from Thomas, Ellie entered the six-year Physician Assistant program at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, which she completed in 2022. While at her first job, she received the 2024 Rising Star Award at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for her early-career clinical excellence.

According to an article on the Patch.com website,

Since joining Yale Medicine, Ellie has become an integral member of a busy and growing musculoskeletal practice. She is known for going above and beyond to ensure patients receive seamless, compassionate care throughout their surgical journey. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, she has volunteered to cover hospital shifts outside of her regular practice to help provide continuity of care for patients.

Ellie was presented with her award at the inaugural Future of Healthcare Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, July 22, at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course in Fairfield, CT.

This bit of happy news was forwarded to me by Ellie’s very proud mother, Gladys Songer, who wrote that “I think Ellie’s success is a testament to the excellent, well-rounded education she received from countless dedicated educators, coaches and support professionals from the Webster Central School District.”

She also noted that  Ellie was a member of Thomas’ cross country and track teams. During her time with cross country, the team competed at States in 2014 for the first time in Webster Thomas history, and the team qualified for States for at least 3 more years. 

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(posted 7/29/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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Who was Joe Obbie?

9 Jul

One of the most colorful signs of summer in Webster is the return of the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market to Webster Towne Center Plaza on Holt Rd. (in front of Old Navy).

The market opened for the season on Saturday, June 13, and will be set up every Saturday at the plaza from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, rain or shine. The very popular Evening in the Park Market will also return to Charles Sexton Park (formerly known as North Ponds) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings beginning next week, July 15. These events also have live music and food trucks, so remember to pack your folding chairs!

You can find out all you need to know about the market at the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market website and Facebook page.

But today, I want to address a question I’ve had for a long time: Who WAS Joe Obbie and why is the market named after him? The answer was not hard to find; his son Mark has provided the background on the market’s website page. You can check that out for yourself, but I’m pleased to reprint that piece here:

The market began in 1983 when our father, Joe Obbie, saw a couple selling crafts outside his favorite Webster diner. He asked if he could join them to sell produce from his farm. By agreeing to let our father set up shop, they were doing more than just inviting in one farmer. They were tapping into a network of local farmers since our father was a lifelong resident of the town — and a master at social networking, motivated by a passion to preserve Webster’s farming heritage.

Joe started recruiting other farmers he knew, and the market was born. It moved to the other end of the same parking lot, where it remained for several years. Once it outgrew its corner of that village parking lot, it moved to another. Eventually, that proved too limiting as well. The expanded market finally found its current home, which had unlimited space for the many farmers and craftspeople who wanted to participate, and importantly, for their customers.

Webster had more than doubled in size during Joe’s adulthood since the 1950s, with housing and commercial developments crowding out farms and vacant land. Joe grew up on a small farm where his father, Charlie, grew potatoes and celery that he sold at the Rochester Public Market. Joe eventually became his father’s business partner, until their small farm proved inadequate to support Joe’s growing family and he went to work at the town’s biggest employer at the time, Xerox. In his later years, Charlie started a popular farm stand in front of his house to sell all kinds of vegetables. After he died in 1980, Joe, who lived next door and who had planted acres of grapes, apples, and garlic to serve as his retirement “hobby,” started his own farm stand.

Because there were fewer and fewer working farms in the town, Joe believed it was essential to give the many new residents of the town a way to connect with Webster’s farming heritage. Now, the farmers market gave him a way to spread that message to the entire community, and not just to the people who drove by his farm. He and our mother, Pat, worked tirelessly to recruit vendors and manage and promote the market for more than 20 years. When they were accompanied in their booth by one of us, by their growing brood of grandchildren, or by our younger adopted and foster siblings (Joe and Pat were longtime foster parents and ended up with a household of six or seven kids at any given time).

Just weeks after Joe died of cancer in 2005, our family gathered at the market to celebrate the unveiling of its new name: Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market. There could be no more meaningful tribute to his life’s mission than to see that others, aided for many years by Pat, would carry on his work to sustain and improve the market. We are so grateful to the people who have carried that torch since 2005 and work so diligently to make the market a success.

In October 2023, Pat baked her last grape pies and cookies for the vendor booth she ran in the years since her husband’s death. Though she has now “retired” from the market, at age 86, we hope to talk her into coming to the 2024 market (and beyond) to greet customers and tell the story of how this market grew from one farmer to many.

Mark Obbie

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(posted 7/9/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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Webster Girl Scouts earn Gold Awards

6 Jun

Congratulations to four Webster Girl Scouts for earning recognition as Gold Award Girl Scouts.

At a ceremony held on Saturday, May 30, Amelia Thompson, Addison Terrana, Karolynn Shaw and Ava Hartfield all received their Gold Awards. The award recognizes Girl Scouts for their years of dedication to Scouting, and their outstanding accomplishments and service to the Webster community.

Here’s more information about these incredible young ladies and their projects:

Ava Hatfield

Ava’s Gold Award Project was called Trailside Comfort: Benches and Table for Everyone. She partnered with the Friends of Webster Trails to enhance the State Rd. Nature Preserve. The project assessed the need for accessible rest areas to improve the visitor experience along the trails. She and her team of volunteers installed two benches and a table at separate locations, sites which were selected to improve accessibility and use, and they made additional improvements to create welcoming spaces for bikers and families.

Ava is a junior at Webster Schroeder High School, and is a member of Troop 60415.

Karolynn Shaw

Kari’s Music Revamp project addressed the financial barriers preventing low-income students in Rochester city schools from fully participating in music education. Many students lack proper instrument cases and essential supplies, making it impossible to practice outside of school. Kari worked with a Rochester City School band director to collect donations from families, friends and community members to provide students with sturdy instrument cases, reeds, cleaning kits, and other necessary supplies. She also created and provided materials for a year’s worth of bulletin board ideas, musician compliment cards and a website.

Kari is a senior at Webster Thomas High School, and a member of Troop 63113. She was also the recipient of the GSWNY Education Scholarship and the Ralph and Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship.

Addison Terrana

Addison’s Keeping Your Dog Safe in All Weather project partnered with local veterinary offices, animal rescues and Scout leaders to promote safe outdoor recreation with pets. The project addressed gaps in accessible information on pet safety and its connection to mental wellness. She created a comprehensive website and brochure called “Badge in a Box,” and developed a virtual option for Brownie troops. She also created materials designed to support families in safely engaging with pets outdoors.

Addison is a senior at Webster Schroeder, and a member of Troop 63113. She was also the recipient of the GSWNY Education Scholarship. Click here to see the website she created: Keeping Your Dog Safe in All Weather 

Amelia Thompson

Amelia worked with Challenger Miracle Field’s Track and Field Program to create an inclusive track and field experience for athletes with disabilities. The project addressed the lack of accessible track and field opportunities in the community. Amelia coordinated volunteers, organized and ran two events, held at Webster Thomas High School last year, which included sprinting, relays, shot put, and long jump competitions.

Amelia is a junior at Webster Thomas High School, and a member of Troop 60617.

Earning a Girl Scout Gold Award is a distinguished accomplishment. The award ceremony program explained it best:

Gold Award Girl Scouts are change-makers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a route cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement.

It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world — and how the world sees them — is forever changed, It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having a Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or resume can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.

Only 6% of all Girl Scouts earn a Gold Award. This year, Girl Scouts of Webster NY had 41 Gold Award Scouts, four of which were Webster students.

Congratulations to Ava, Karolynn, Addison and Amelia. You make Webster proud!

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(posted 6/6/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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Thank you, Webster, from Julia, Lily and Penny!

14 May

You might remember a few weeks ago I wrote about an ambitious Bronze Award project that three young Webster Girl Scouts were working on.

Junior Scouts Julia Meyers, Lily Pettit and Penny Patterson from Troop 60344, all fifth graders from Klem North Elementary School, were collecting games, puzzles, children’s books, colored pencils, crayons, markers and craft kits for children in need. The donations would then be sorted, organized and donated to Family Promise, a Rochester-based organization which assists families at risk of homelessness.

To promote the month-long project, the young ladies posted announcements online, designed flyers to hang around town, and arranged for the Webster School District to send a notice home to all of the district’s families. Finally, they secured several local agencies to serve as host sites for collection boxes. Once everything was in place, they could only wait, hoping people would notice, and their efforts would result in at least a few donations.

The Webster community did more than notice; they responded with overwhelming generosity.

Donations immediately started pouring in, filling the collection bins many times over. Wish lists they’d posted on Amazon for bags, games, activity books, puzzles, crafts, crayons and markers were promptly filled. Several people emailed directly, asking how they could help. Neighbors dropped items off at the house, school friends handed over even more. By the end of April, the young Scouts had collected an estimated 1,500 or more items (actually, they kind of lost count). About a week later, they trucked them all over to the Gathering Place Rochester, where 30 or so family members, neighbors and friends helped them pack 151 “kid kits” for children in need.

Julia, Lily and Penny are thrilled with their project’s success, and know that it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of the Webster community. And for that support, they want to send out a HUGE thank you.

“We never thought that it would go as well as it did,” Lily said, to which Penny added, “I didn’t think we were going to have that much stuff. At the most we thought we’d have 500 items.”

“We really appreciate everyone who donated, filled the Amazon list, and came to the Gathering Place event,” Julia said. Not to mention the businesses that provided space for the donation bins, and the Gathering Place for hosting the sorting and organizing session. It was truly a community effort, driven in large part by countless anonymous donors.

“That’s why we’re doing this community thank you, so we can thank them all.”

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(posted 5/14/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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