A HEARTFELT CONTRIBUTION:From left, Upstate's Linda Veit and Zanette Howe accept the American Heart Association's top Heart Walk fundraising company award from the association's Franklin Fry. Upstate Medical University raised more than $24,500 for the 2020 virtual Heart Walk.

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? The Upstate Community Garden, a service of Upstate Pathway to Wellness, is reaping the benefits of rain and heat as veggies grow tall. On Aug. 12 Upstate will offer a livestream garden presentation on how to make an herb garden and on Aug. 13, it will feature a presentation on drying and freezing herbs. Both presentations start at noon. You can join the livestream presentations on the Upstate Community Garden’s Facebook page. The garden is located in front of the Campus Activities Building.

MASK MESSAGE: While on campus July 14 to get an update on Upstate’s COVID-19 research, New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul took the opportunity during a press conference to remind the public of the importance of wearing a mask. She said the state continues to make great strides in working through the pandemic by expanded testing, contact tracing, quarantining and “something as simple” as wearing a mask. “This is the reason we’ve been so successful in driving the infection rate down,” she said.  

YOUTHFUL BENEFACTORS: Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of the generosity of the Lafayette Central School District’s Class of 2020. Despite all the setbacks for graduating senior celebrations this year, students sought to help others with a $1,300 donation to the hospital.

PAINTING THE RESCUE MISSION: Members of the Upstate community and family and friends spent a sultry Saturday painting the Rescue Mission’s new Runaway and Homeless Emergency Youth Shelter. Earlier in the week, a group helped clear away brush at the Rescue Mission site. The Rescue Mission is Upstate’s Your Cause Charity for 2020 and Upstate is supporting the agency’s mission through volunteer efforts and a donation.

SPECIAL DELIVERY 2: Another deliver from UUP, was 2,000 isolation gowns. Previously, UUP donated 10,000 ear loop masks and 50 gallons of hand sanitizer.