The Wallkill St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce there will be Co-Grand Marshals for the 2024 Parade. This is the first time this parade, being held for its 37th year, has had the privilege of having two individuals share this title.
The two individuals chosen for this honor are Heather Riley and Wendy Cavanaugh. These two women have played a significant role for a numbers of years as volunteers in the Hamlet of Wallkill.
One of their major achievements was to establish the Golden Rule Thrift Shop in 2011. The Golden Rule Thrift Shop is an outreach ministry of the Wallkill Reformed Church and serves the entire Wallkill community and beyond. The thrift shop is located on Wallkill Avenue and conducts a brisk business on a regular basis.
In 2012, the Snackin Kidz Club, now known as the Weekend Meal Bags for Students Program, was started by Heather and Wendy. This is also a Christian Outreach Ministry. Planning, shopping and organizing the distribution of food for students in need in the Wallkill School District is overseen by these two women. They currently feed 155 students each week. With the assistance of the Life Skills Classes at the Wallkill Middle and High Schools, they prepare the weekly bags for distribution to students within the school district.
Both Wendy and Heather volunteered together at the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry for several years before opening the thrift shop.
Heather and her husband Sam have resided in Wallkill for 38 years. She has two grown children and five grandchildren. She is a former nursery school teacher and has worked at Shawangunk Town Hall for 30 years as Deputy Town Clerk and former Court Clerk. Over the years she has volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, PTO member, and also served on the Ulster County Community Services Board.
Having resided in Wallkill for 26 years, Wendy and her husband Bill, have six children and seven grandchildren. She is retired from the United States Air Force after 22 years of service and has worked at various jobs since retirement. Wendy is currently employed at Gold’s Gym. She is a recent member of the Rose-Sheeley American Legion Post and has assumed a leadership role in the Hometown Heroes Banner Program.
Heather and Wendy would like to thank the community for their generous support over the years making what they do possible.
Wallkill St. Patrick’s Parade Committee is happy to recognize these two dedicated women as Co-Grand Marshals for the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade being held on March 17, 2024, 2 p.m.