About Sidewalk Warriors Troy
Welcome to the heart of our mission!
At Sidewalk Warriors Troy, we're fueled by the power of community connections. Our bond with individuals and local businesses is the cornerstone that allows us to address the needs within our neighborhood. We're humbled and thankful for the unwavering support that enables us to extend a helping hand to those in need.
Our Operations Base
We don't have a traditional office space, but what we do have storage space donated by Christ Church Troy Methodist. Our incredible volunteers are the backbone of our organization, managing donations from their homes, ensuring we're always prepared to give back. We set up each week on the sidewalks at the corner of 5th and State St. Come rain or shine, you'll find us there, with around 30 folding tables unfolding in minutes, thanks to the steady stream of contributions arriving by car.
Serving With Compassion
For our friends in Troy, NY who need help, we are here week after week to provide essential items for free and with no judgment. We strive to meet every need and fulfill special requests whenever possible, often reaching out through our Facebook page for community assistance. Rest assured, every monetary donation is thoughtfully used to purchase essential items, and every single donation is used to provide essentials to those who need them.
What We Offer
Each week, we're proud to offer hot meals, sandwiches, fresh produce, pantry staples, and basic necessities. Our distributions also include special items like towels, linens, pillows, winter boots, underwear, socks, laundry detergent, and more.
Community Driven
Our entire operation is volunteer-driven, supported by the generosity of our community members, organizations, businesses, and individuals who cook, bake, donate funds, or provide requested items. Every contribution, no matter the size, is a significant part of our collective effort—it truly takes a village.
Join Us!
Come be a part of our story. Together, we can make a difference.
We set every Thursday, 52 weeks a year, at the corner of 5th Avenue and 35 State St. Volunteers start the setup at 4:30 pm, and by 6:00 pm, we're ready to serve our community with open hearts and open hands.
Hear What Our Friends Say...
Witness the impact of empathy and compassion through these inspiring stories, capturing the essence of how simple acts of giving can ignite hope and positive change in our community. Join us on a heartwarming journey as we share powerful stories on how a little help from our volunteers has on the lives of those we serve.
Special thanks to Lisa Grace of Conceptual Images for creating these videos
Sidewalk Warriors Troy Receives Grant from the Times Union
December 2025
Sidewalk Warriors Troy was honored to be selected as one of twelve grant recipients through the Times Union’s Capital Region Gives initiative in 2025. As part of this recognition, we received a $10,000 in-kind advertising grant to support our mission and increase awareness of our work across the Capital Region.
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This grant helps amplify our message and strengthens our ability to connect with and serve our community. We are grateful to the Times Union for this meaningful support and to everyone who took the time to vote and advocate for our work.
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Photo courtesy of Will Waldron / Times Union
Van Inaugural Highlights
April 26, 2024
Witness a Milestone Moment: Sidewalk Warriors Troy is thrilled to share the inauguration of our very first capital purchase – a state-of-the-art refrigeration van! This van is more than just a vehicle; it's a promise of growth and enhanced service to our community.
Watch the highlights from our memorable inauguration day and see how this milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our journey to make a difference. A special thanks to all our supporters and community leaders who made this possible. Together, we're on the road to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
Special thanks to Lisa Grace of Conceptual Images for creating this video, as well.
2025 Impact & Efforts
Thanks to the unwavering support of our community, we've made a meaningful difference in 2025. The following numbers highlight our achievements in sustainability, community engagement, and compassionate outreach.
27,200+
Volunteer
Hours
14,712
Friends
Served
275
Healthy Alliance
Referrals
29,737
Hot Meals Distributed
525+
Survival
Bags
200+
Local Business
Support
575+
Children Who Received Gifts
And numerous direct monetary donations, special items for distribution, and recurring contributions of essential supplies.
Click the button below to explore the impact we've made over the years.
Board of Directors
Compassionate. Empathetic. Dedicated.
Robin Fontanelli
PRESIDENT
Robin’s interest in helping others is something that has always felt right in her heart. She says, "This isn’t something you learn in school or college, this is in you, you know it and you feel it."
For more than 30 years, Robin owned a bridal shop where she learned the importance of listening to people and their needs. Then later, she became intrigued with the world of finance and wanted to help others reach their financial goals.
During this time, she started volunteering more frequently and knew serving others was where she should be. She leads Sidewalk Warriors Troy as they go above and beyond just providing a warm meal and sandwich. Robin ensures each volunteer and friend served feels a sense of family, compassion, and love, which will always make a greater impact on the community.
Robin welcomes new volunteers who want to join the group's efforts, and invites new friends in need to stop by the weekly distribution site.
"Each week we see some new friends, some friends from the week before, and some from who return to report that they changed their path. It is remarkable to have someone walk by your pop-up distribution and tell you that this group changed my life or this group believed in me... When you hear such powerful words with conviction you know you are in the right place. This is why we do what we do, you just never know the impact you may have on just one person."
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Robin is married has two adult daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren nearby. She currently resides in Latham, NY.
Kelly Sauders
Interim Vice President
Kelly has been actively engaged in the communities she has lived in since her time at
SUNY Plattsburgh, where she led a college-based volunteer organization sponsored by
The Kiwanis Club that delivered thousands of hours of community service each year.
Once she moved to the Capital District in 1996, she continued to volunteer and has
worked with various non-profit organizations, including those supporting people
experiencing homelessness, refugees, immigrants, and youth.
Kelly is currently a Partner with Deloitte. Her career has spanned thirty years in
accounting and consulting, focusing on non-profit healthcare organizations. She
currently leads the Northeast Region for Deloitte’s healthcare consulting practice.
She has been a dedicated volunteer with Sidewalk Warriors Troy for over six years and
is active in supporting fundraising efforts and identifying corporate and community
partners who believe in Sidewalk Warriors Troy’s mission. Kelly looks forward to
serving on an interim basis in the Vice President role, helping the organization expand
the Board of Directors and identify sustainable sources of community and financial
support for years to come.
“No matter what is going on in my work or personal life, volunteering on Thursday nights
puts things in perspective. Nobody should have to go hungry, and the more I’ve gotten
to know the friends we serve, the more I realize that life can be more complicated than
we think. It’s easy to judge others but harder to put yourself in their shoes. I absolutely
love that Sidewalk Warriors Troy volunteers meet our friends each week with dignity,
kindness, and compassion. It’s what keeps us coming back to help week after week.”
Anthony Fontanelli
TREASURER
Tony has always been a generous individual with a strong desire to help people. He was caretaker for his parents for many years, and they instilled in him the strong family values that included helping others.
Tony will notice the gentleman in need on the corner and give not only assistance, but engage in conversation with a smile. When he first met his wife, it became clear that they both wanted to help their community. Before long, he became a dedicated weekly volunteer setting up tables on the sidewalks of Troy... and the rest is history.
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For Tony, Sidewalk Warriors Troy has become more than just helping individuals, it is a commitment. He recognizes that time and consistency is so important to developing trust. Tony has demonstrated that we are there for our friends each week with needed items. He reports, "There is nothing more rewarding than for someone to ask for a pair of boots or sneakers, and to see their reaction when you show up with them the next time you see them. They now feel they have been heard and valued."
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Tony worked for Albany County for over 45 years and recently retired. He is an active 6 Degree Black Belt instructor in Martial Arts for over 28 years. He has an adult son, extended family, and grandchildren.
His expertise in accounting is welcomed by Sidewalk Warriors Troy!
Dawn has been a helper since her childhood and filled a role as a caretaker for family members. This defines the person she has become.
Dawn works at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga as the Director of Operations. This role allows her to help make sure that all children have access to informal educational opportunities!
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To Dawn, Sidewalk Warriors Troy feels like home. Living in Troy for all of her life, she sees the need that exists in her own community. She can often be heard saying that her commitment to this organization “fills her heart.”