In Schenectady, Schenectady Shares is once again helping collect food for local food pantries through its annual food drive. The group hopes to gather 25,000 pounds of food and hygiene products, as well as $25,000 in cash, by Feb. 10. Last year’s inaugural campaign collected nearly 21,000 pounds of food and hygiene products and raised more than $20,000 for 13 regional food pantries. Schenectady Shares is partnering with The Daily Bread Food Pantry from St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Schenectady to organize and distribute the donations. Those wishing to donate food and hygeine products can drop them off at more than 30 locations in the area, including all Price Chopper/Market 32 locations in the county, as well as Schenectady City Hall, Schenectady High School, some local businesses and other government buildings. For more information on the food drive and where to donate, visit the Schenectady Shares Facebook page. To make a monetary donation, send checks to The Daily Bread Food Pantry with the memo line stating the check is for Schenectady Shares. For more information on the Daily Bread Food Pantry, visit https://www.stlukesschenectady.org/food-pantry-urban-ministry/.

In Lake George, the local community responded with care and compassion after a tour bus from Canada rolled over on the Northway last week. After the crash, which killed one and injured 11 others, the Lake George school district dispatched a bus to bring injured passengers to the local fire station. The Fort William Hotel in Lake George offered tour bus passengers free lodging and food, and had dispatched staff to gather their suitcases from the crash site. In all, the hotel took in 21 families. In addition, volunteers from the Red Cross, the fire station and the community assisted the stranded passengers after the tragedy.

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High Notes is a Monday feature of The Gazette Opinion section spotlighting the good being done in our communities by individuals, organizations, schools and colleges, and businesses. If you know of anyone who should be celebrated, send your suggestions for High Notes to Editorial Page Editor Mark Mahoney at mmahoney@dailygazette.net.