Pictured are volunteers Ryan Both, Karlie Both Aidan Both, Nicholas Maslin, Shannon Maslin, Kris Maslin, Katie Tracy and Eudora Shuler.
The Village of Owego has a treasured gem in the Historic Owego Cemetery. For close to 165 years, the Village has interred its citizens and created a mosaic of history, heritage and family memorials.
On Nov. 21, National Family Volunteer Day, an intergenerational group of local families joined together for several hours to help the Village put some polish on its gem. Participants ranged from age eight to 92, and they raked up leaves, put new stain on the Gazebo, placed a decorative fence around the Gazebo’s garden area and installed two attractive planters with evergreen bushes at the Gazebo’s entrance.
This volunteer service by families helped kickoff National Family Week as a lead up to Thanksgiving. Giving back gratefully to the Owego community was on the minds and in the hearts of the volunteers.
A Betty Bassett Beautification Grant through the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation to the Tioga County Boys & Girls Club’s Tioga Hawks Youth Lacrosse Program funded this community service project. Young lacrosse players with their parents and other community members learned the value and importance of service to others by young people, especially athletes and other youth, and that volunteering can be fun as a family activity.
For more information about this and other volunteer service opportunities contact Bob Bassett at chbyouthfoundation37@gmail.com.
