Leap Of Kindness Day - February 29, 2024
Leap of Kindness Day was invented by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in 2016. The idea was to inspire our members and community to use their extra day that Leap Year to do something kind for someone else, and hundreds of local organizations helped thousands of local people on February 29, 2016.
In 2020, Leap of Kindness Day was even bigger and better as more than 200 chambers in the US, Canada, and Ireland joined us and organized their own celebrations. In Saratoga, people donated their time, talent, and treasure to help so many people, local charities, and nonprofit organizations, and to thank first responders, teachers, school bus drivers, Veterans, etc.
In 2024, we will once again celebrate Leap of Kindness Day, on Thursday, February 29, 2024, and everyone is invited to join us!
To make this happen, local nonprofit organizations can send an email to Greg Dixon at gdixon@saratoga.org to share what your organization needs in 2024. These requests are posted on this webpage as they are received. Please let us know using the form below what specific acts of kindness you decided to do from this list or to achieve a mission important to you and your organization.
Requests from the Saratoga County Impact Sector
Members of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Impact Sector Council need your help on Leap of Kindness Day!
Please click on the name of each nonprofit to learn more about the organizations and their programs. Please also see our list of companies and community members who have committed to help below.
Alliance 180 needs 12 bib overalls: men's - medium (4), large (2), XL (2) and women's - small (2), medium (2).
Moreau Community Center needs canned goods for food pantry, men's women's and children's clothing (new or gently used).
Southern Saratoga YMCA needs toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, disposable razors, mouth wash, hand towels, bath towels, wash cloths. Full list here
Wellspring needs gift cards, such as: Stewart's, Target, Walmart, CVS, Hannaford, and Market32.
Mechanicville District Public Library needs a bottle filler water station. Contact library director at mduell@sals.edu for specifications.
Ballston Area Community Center needs school/craft supplies, basketballs, kickballs, soft dodge balls, volleyballs, soccer balls
Kee to Independent Growth needs essential care items for men and women, bedding, hats and gloves
Wilton EMS needs senior-friendly reading material, night lights, non perishable snacks/drinks, thank you cards, pot luck dinner or gift cards to restaurants
Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga needs donations for five-year-old retired thoroughbred, Forest Spirit, to provide him with needed surgeries to live out his life in good health. A fundraiser for Forest Spirit will also be held at The Horseshoe Inn on Feb. 29
Camp Stomping Ground needs half used paint cans (any color paint), garden tools (new or used)
Saratoga County History Center (Brookside Museum) needs volunteers to paint a second floor space at Brookside Museum
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park needs gift cards to Target, Walmart, Stewart's, Hannaford, Price Chopper - to be used for education and public program supplies
The Beagle School needs a Philips HeartStart OnSite School and Community AED Kit for CPR training and for emergency use
Wilton Food Pantry needs feminine hygiene products, facial tissues, paper towels, canned soups, beans, and low sugar dry cereals (like Cheerios). They also need a commercial-sized freezer or donations toward purchasing one.
Race Track Chaplaincy- New York needs men's sweatshirt hoodies: medium, large, X-large (could use up to 150 of each size)
Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) of NY needs men's clothing (especially jeans) new or gently used, men's sneakers (new or gently used), blankets, twin size sheet sets, towels, raincoats for men & women, personal care items
Epilepsy Foundation Northeastern New York needs Uber gift cards, Price Chopper, Hannaford, Walmart, Target, Stewart, Amazon gift Cards, local hotel and restaurant gift cards
RISE Housing and Support Services needs personal care, feminine hygiene products, paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils and volunteers for a clean up day at Adelphi Street Shelter (all supplies will be provided)
Operation Adopt a Soldier needs volunteers to pack boxes with supplies to be mailed to the soldiers, monetary donations or donation of items from the following list: https://www.operationadoptasoldier.org/items-needed
CAPTAIN Community Human Services needs volunteers for deep cleaning of supply closet (during school hours) and donations of pajamas, socks and slippers for teens at the youth shelter, donations of personal care items and cleaning supplies at the Clifton Park Food Pantry, Easter cards made for 100 Senior citizens for the Care Links program and 10 volunteers to work with students in the Cheryl's Lodge after-school program from 2:30-5 p.m. on Feb. 29
Franklin Community Center needs gift cards to Target, Walmart, Stewart's, Hannaford, Price Chopper - to be used for education and program supplies.
Gateway House of Peace needs paper towels, tissues, tall kitchen garbage bags, Swiffer wet-jet and Swiffer Sweeper wet multi-surface refills, dishwasher pods (Cascade), single serve K-cup coffee/tea pods and gift cards for grocery items
Mechanicville Area Community Services Center needs lighting and security cameras, including installation, for the parking lot of its new location (contact director for specifications), power washing and graffiti removal as well as pet food, personal care items and gift cards to CVS, Target, Walmart, phone minute gift cards and Stewart's gas cards for its food pantry.
Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist (HOPE) needs hard or canned dog food, hard or canned cat food, clumping cat litter, cat or dog treats, Chewy.com or Amazon gift cards
Adirondack Folk School needs volunteers to distribute and display 2024 Adirondack Folk School print catalogs and contributions to the annual fund to continue to ensure classes are accessible to all
The Wesley Community needs paper products or household items such as paper towels, kleenex, dish detergents, hand soaps, bars of soap, etc.
Shelters of Saratoga needs Cudney's laundry tokens, monthly CDTA bus passes, non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items
Habitat for Humanity needs gift cards, gas cards, coupons to local restaurants or any other benefits that could be used to reward volunteers at the ReStore.
Vanderheyden needs Stewart's Shops gift cards, Basketballs, Yoga balls, Bouncing balls, Dodge balls, and Soccer balls.
Lucky Puppy Rescue needs Purina One Healthy Puppy Dry and Wet Dog Food, Purina One Adult Dry and Wet Dog Food, Gas Cards, Laundry Detergent, Dawn Dish Soap, Bleach, Washable Pee Pads, Large and Heavy Duty Trash Bags, Martingale collars, Dogzymes Puppy-Bac Milk Replacer, ResCue Disinfectant Concentrate, Nylabones or other safe chew bones, monetary donations, Home Improvement Store gift cards, and Sponges, mops and cleaning tools and supplies.
Friends of Saratoga Springs Public Library needs a custom built cabinet for The Friends Coffee Shop, located inside the Saratoga Springs Public Library. For more details, contact Jennifer Allen, Executive Director, at executivedirector@fsspl.org.
The Saratoga Senior Center needs gift cards for seniors in need – for any amount – to Stewart’s Shops, CVS, gas stations or any of the local grocery stores – Hannaford, Price Chopper or Aldi.
The Veterans and Community Housing Coalition (VCHC) needs small denomination gas cards, bus passes, paper products, cleaning supplies, snack and protein bars, garbage bags, coffee, creamer, and laundry detergent.
The Ballston Spa Upper Room Food Pantry needs spaghetti sauce, soups, canned goods, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, paper towels and toilet paper.
The Perry Road Food Pantry at Perry Road Baptist Church is in need of cereal, canned tuna, spaghetti sauce, canned vegetables, juice, feminine hygiene products and tissues.
Rebuilding Together Saratoga County needs help to create Safety Kits to aid homeowners in need to stay safe, warm, and dry. Suggested donation items include Kitchen Fire Extinguishers, 10-year Smoke Detectors, CO2 Detectors, Night Lights, First Aid Only Kits, and Travel Hand Sanitizer. Items can be shipped to or dropped off at 132 Milton Ave Ballston Spa, NY 12020 on Tuesday-Saturday from 10a-2:00p. Contact Clarice with any questions at clarice@rtsaratoga.org.
Saratoga Children's Literacy League (SCLL) provides free books to children, regardless of income level, to support the growth of home libraries, to build a culture of reading for enjoyment, and to promote academic and personal growth. SCLL volunteers refurbish donated books to make them like new. Book and monetary donations are gladly accepted and SCLL is currently fundraising for a new book bus to support SCLL's mission. On Leap of Kindness Day, SCLL welcomes people/companies to sign up to host a bookmending workshop in their homes or businesses. SCLL brings all books and supplies. You can schedule one for Feb 29th or schedule dates in the future.
Saratoga PLAN needs a Staple Gun, Disposable Ear Plugs, Green Duct Tape, Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Scissors, Canvas Aprons, Flagging Tape, an 8 pound Sledgehammer, 5 gallon Buckets, Work Gloves, and a Bench Grinder.
The Greater Galway Food Pantry is in need of personal hygiene products, canned tuna, canned chicken, coffee, salad dressing, cereal, nutrition drinks for our elderly i.e. Ensure or Boost, and laundry detergent.
The Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern NY is recruiting 29 #Walk2EndAlz teams by February 29. Become a part of their Walk community! Not only does Walk to End Alzheimer's enable the Association to deliver free care and support services to local families, but it fuels groundbreaking research around the globe so we can one day #ENDALZ. Register your team: act.alz.org/neny
Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York is helping young women build 21st Century Workforce skills and traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and the willingness to try new things.... at SUMMER CAMP! Studies show, that individuals who attended camp as children demonstrate these skills and traits throughout academic environments and well into their early careers. Help GSNENY build a strong, female workforce for tomorrow by picking out your favorite camp supplies to donate from their wish list on Amazon.
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is looking for help in getting neck bands with donated funds for their herd of over 400 retired Thoroughbred racehorses. These will help identify every horse in their herd.
Attention Tax Pros: AIM Services is humbly requesting the services of Tax Professionals willing to offer some hours of their time to help AIM employees and people supported by AIM with filing their taxes. AIM would provide space at their office at 4227 Route 50 during agreed-upon designated hours for tax professionals to meet those in need of assistance within the AIM Community. Interested tax professionals can contact Bo at bogoliber@aimservicesinc.org to discuss further.
Pitney Meadows Community Farm needs gift cards to Lowes and Allerdice Hardware/Saratoga for tools and supplies to be used for volunteer work day projects that will help increase pollinator habitat and for harvesting food pantry donations.
Bikeatoga needs all bikes with wheels 20" or larger in working condition. Please contact them via text at 518-290-0746 or email at info@bikeatoga.org to make arrangements. Additional volunteer opportunities will be posted on their website in April.
Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center needs the following: canned & dry cat and kitten food, Fresh News non clumping cat litter, pee pads, scratching posts and scratching pads, litter boxes (non-stick) & litter scoops, 28” cat carriers, food mats, paper towels, and collapsible play tunnels. Volunteers are also needed for many opportunities. Inquire at volunteeradk@animalleague.org.
CREATE Community Studios needs gift cards for Walmart, Target or Ocean State Job Lot to purchase supplies for their ongoing programming needs.
The Galway Backpack Program is collecting gently used to new drawstring bags, regular size backpacks, and non-perishable snack and kid-friendly food items. Please call or text Nadine at 518-779-0044 to help.
The Children's Museum at Saratoga is asking community members to share their favorite memories of the museum. It's important to form positive memories as a child to help support development. Such memories create a foundation of skills to help children grow into adults who are able to navigate challenges and relationships. Memories can be shared through our Facebook or Instagram!
The Ballston Spa PTSA is collecting raffle items for our Seniors for the Ballston Spa High School After Prom Celebration. This night is dedicated to keeping our high schoolers safe on the night of the prom. This event is all inclusive regardless if you attend Prom and provides a safe space for all students to come together and celebrate substance free. If you would like to make a raffle donation email bspaafterprom@gmail.com or click here.
Double H Ranch provides specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. All programs are FREE of charge for campers and their families. The Double H Ranch needs items from their Wish List to be used in their year-round programs. A fundraiser event for camp, “A Magical Evening,” will also be held on Thursday, February 29th at Universal Preservation Hall.
The Rotary Club of Ballston Spa is hosting a "Leap Into Spring" BBQ chicken dinner fundraiser on February 29th to benefit the club's community efforts and Scottie's Pantry at Ballston Spa High School.
Grant Cottage needs both volunteers and monetary donations to keep the doors open, tours running, and events going at Grant Cottage... the final home of President and General Ulysses S. Grant.
Please click on the name of each nonprofit to learn more about the organizations and their programs.
Commitments to Make a Difference for Leap of Kindness Day 2024
Is your organization, company or family doing something to help? Please fill out this form below and let us know so we can share it on this page. Thank you!
Grit + Grace North will deliver goodie baskets and treats to local first responders.
Saratoga Springs Public Library librarians in Adult Services will be making kindness bags filled with essential items for our patrons facing housing insecurity. Supplies will be given out at the information and reference desks while they last. Local businesses who contributed to these efforts include Stewart's and Price Chopper/Market 32.
Wilcenski Pleat Law will organize a drive to collect pajamas, socks, slippers and personal care items for CAPTAIN's shelter and pantry as well as a drive to collect household items for the Wesley Community.
Adirondack Case Management & Advocacy will organize a drive to collect requested items for Lucky Puppy Rescue.
Complexions Spa Albany and Saratoga will organize a drive to collect gift cards and items of necessity for Wellspring survivors services.
Alpine Sport Shop will donate hats and socks to Captain Community Services. For every hat and pair of socks sold Feb. 26 through March 2, 2024, Alpine Sport Shop will match it with a donated item of the same.
Sherry Hoffman Insurance Agency, Inc. will volunteer to help paint the second floor space at Brookside Museum.
Curtis Lumber will deliver donated 2x4s - available for purchase throughout the month at select Curtis Lumber locations - to Habitat For Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties to help build a home.
The Holiday Inn - Saratoga Springs staff members are cleaning the Code Blue Shelter and Edgewood House for RISE. Additionally, they will be donating paper goods and personal care products.
Galway Seniors will collect donations for the Galway Food Pantry and the Galway BackPack Program.
Adirondack Trust Company will support BEST (Backstretch Employee Service Team) by collecting donations at each branch from Monday, February 19th until Wednesday, February 28th. Suggested new or gently used items requested by B.E.S.T. for donation include the following items: Men's clothing, jeans, sneakers; Blankets; Twin-sized sheets; Towels; Rain coats; and Personal care items.
Friends of Fort Hardy Park, a volunteer group planning on building a dog park at Fort Hardy as a first project in a multi-year planned park revitalization, are holding an I Ruff Fort Hardy dog treat and dog tag bake sale at Hair Divas in Schuylerville ( more locations to come). All proceeds from the sale of dog treats will help to build the park!
Joseph Henry Elementary School will host a collection for the items in need at Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist (H.O.P.E.)
Shade Tree Advisors LLC will organize a book drive for Saratoga Children's Literacy League, a drive within the company collecting half used paint cans and new or used garden tools for Camp Stomping Ground and a drive within the company collecting men's clothing, sneakers, blankets, twin size sheets, towels, etc. for Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) of NY.
The Galway Backpack Program will prepare and deliver meals and supplemental snacks as well as hygiene needs, clothing needs and bottled water to local students.
Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge will drop off lunch to the Saratoga Springs Fire Department's Lake Avenue Station.
Nourish will donating 10% of February 2024 purchases of full-priced, in-stock Nourish apparel to The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York to support efforts to reduce food insecurity within New York State. As always, each purchase at Nourish also provides funding for meals for kids in Upstate New York.
Saratoga Arms will help to fund supplies for the Girls Scouts of Northeastern New York Summer Camp program. As an organization that is owned and managed by women, Saratoga Arms, is looking to help grow the skills and traits of the next generation of female workforce.
Lifestyles of Saratoga, Caroline & Main, and Union Hall Supply Co. will organize a drive within its team to collect personal hygiene items and gently used men's clothing and shoes to donate to the Backstretch Employee Service Team of New York.
UHY will deliver a special breakfast to members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department to show support and appreciation for all they do in the community.
Balzer & Tuck Architecture, PLLC is donating gift cards to both Franklin Community and Wellspring.
Hoffman Car Wash will promote Leap of Kindness Day on all of its digital properties at 27 locations encouraging individuals to use the extra day to do something kind.
Coffee Planet will deliver bagels and cream cheese to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
Cartier Real Estate Group is collecting donations of gift cards to CVS, Target, Walmart, Amazon and Stewart's Gas Cards, twin bedding, pillows and feminine toiletries for Wellspring. Donations can be brought to 116 West Ave. Suite 100 in Saratoga Springs between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until noon on Thursday, Feb. 29.
Ball Corporation is donating soccer, basketball, and dodge balls to the Ballston Area Community Center.
ACE Hardware is helping Camp Stomping Ground with their requests for landscaping tools.
Ballston Spa National Bank will provide personal hygiene items for Shelters of Saratoga.
Roundabout Runners Club is donating 2022 and 2023 remaining Malta 5K & 10K race shirts to the program that aims to prevent suicide for fellow Veterans, First Responders and Frontline Healthcare Workers facing the effects of trauma.
Dunning Street Station is collecting canned dog or cat food, cat litter and dog or cat treats in a donation box at the front entrance of the restaurant until Feb. 29 for Home for Orphaned Pets Exist. (HOPE).
Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps is donating an AED & CPR Kit to The Beagle School.
Airway Meadows Golf Club will donate a women's suit that can be worn by someone with an office job or interviews for an office job to Moreau Community Center.
First New York Federal Credit Union is volunteering at local food pantries through the Food Pantries of the Capital Region.
Saratoga Economic Development Corporation will work the Food Pantry at CAPTAIN Community Human Services sorting and fulfilling food pantry orders, and offer homework help for kids.
Earl B Feiden Appliance of Clifton Park is purchasing supplies for Operation Adopt A Soldier to create about 30 boxes. Employees from several locations and departments will be spending time on Leap of Kindness Day filling the boxes with a variety of items to be sent to our soldiers. Employees are also collecting paint and gardening tools to donate to Camp Stomping Ground.
First National Bank of Scotia is organizing a Dress Down Jeans Day to raise money to purchase items that the Saratoga County Animal Shelter needs. The bank plans to match the employee donations collected from the Dress Down Day and will drop the items off at the shelter.
In Balance Life and Parent Coaching will volunteer to work with students in the CAPTAIN Community Human Services Cheryl's Lodge after-school program.
Arrow Family of Companies is supporting Lucky Puppy Rescue & Moreau Community Center. Saratoga National Bank Main Office will collect dog food, cleaning products, chew bones & monetary donations for Lucky Puppy Rescue. Glens Falls National Bank Broad Street, South Glens Falls & Main Office branches will collect canned goods & men's, women's & children's clothing for the Moreau Community Center. Donations can be brought to these branch locations between 9am-4pm, Mon.-Fri. until Thurs., Feb. 29.
Rockefeller Global Family Office will leave thank you goodie bags for all of its mail/packages delivery people on Feb. 29.
Perry Road Baptist Church will thank the staff at Saratoga Springs High School with a snack platter.
Galway CSD National Junior Honor Society will respond to Captain Community Human Services’ request for Easter Cards for 100 senior citizens for the Care Links program.
Stewart's Shops will be supporting and visiting local organizations on February 29th to spread some kindness, including Franklin Community Center to support their after-school programs (Lake Ave Elementary, Geyser Elementary, Dorothy Nolan); LifeWorks Community Action for Meal Delivery support; and The Wesley Community to deliver Ice Cream.
Common Roots Brewing Company has a limited-edition new beer available at noon on 2/29 which was created to support the South High Marathon Dance. Also, from 5pm-9pm on 2/29 at the South Glens Falls Taproom, $1 per beer poured will go to support this year’s SMHD fundraising efforts.
Polyset is installing a new “bottle filler water station” at the Mechanicville Public Library.
Saratoga Eagle is serving breakfast to the school bus drivers who work out of the school’s garage next door to their business.
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and her staff are scheduled to sort recyclables at MT Recycling in Queensbury.
The Saratoga County Chamber Board of Directors is delivering fruit and breakfast pastries to the staff at Malta Med Emergent Care.
The Galway Sr. High Student Council will collect items in need for Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist (H.O.P.E.)
Myers Center Exceptional Learners Middle School Program created a billboard for Leap of Kindness Day. As a school wide effort, we celebrated on Feb.17 when people could take a card from the envelopes and perform the act of kindness written on the card. For example, “say thank you to someone for helping you,” “tell someone to have a nice day,” etc. We’d sign the card and then pass them on. Some of the cards had many signatures, indicating they'd been all around.
Here are few other acts of kindness you might consider...
Leap of Kindness Day is spreading...
Check out this Google map that shows the spread of Leap of Kindness Day 2024. Each community pinned on this map has indicated plans to host their own Leap of Kindness Day celebration on February 29, 2024.
Thanks to our 2024 Leap of Kindness Day promotional partner:
