Groups — in real life & online
Community
Speigletown is its people. Here's where to find one another — to volunteer, to organize, or just to say hello.
Speigletown District Volunteer Fire Company
In personThe heart of local volunteering. Firematic, fire police, and social members welcome — no experience required, training provided free. Community breakfasts and seasonal events.
📍 146 Speigletown Road, Troy, NY 12182
Full department page → Visit →Lansingburgh Historical Society
BothPreserves the history of Lansingburgh and Speigletown. Talks, archives, and research on our shared past.
Visit →Schaghticoke History
OnlineA deep, well-researched blog documenting the people, roads, farms, and businesses of Speigletown and greater Schaghticoke.
Visit →Knights of Columbus — Transfiguration Parish
In personThe Catholic men’s fraternal and service organization at Transfiguration Parish. Contact Louis N. Chmeilewski (lnchmielewski@yahoo.com) to get involved.
Visit →Neighbors of Speigletown (proposed)
BothA place for residents to trade recommendations, organize around local issues, and look out for one another. Want to help start or moderate it? Get in touch.
Animal rescues & nonprofits
Whether you've found a stray, can't afford a vet bill, want to adopt or foster, or spotted injured wildlife — these groups serve our area, and they all run on volunteers and donations.
Mohawk Hudson Humane Society
Shelter & clinicThe region’s major animal shelter. Adoption, reduced-cost veterinary services, dog training, a pet food pantry for families who need help, cruelty investigations, and humane education.
📍 3 Oakland Avenue, Menands
☎️ 518-434-8128
Visit →The Animal Support Project (TASP)
Crisis supportAn all-volunteer, all-species safety net based right here in Rensselaer County. Crisis intervention to keep pets with their families — help with vet care, food, training, and transport — plus pet food and supplies stocked in more than 20 local food pantries. Over 90% of the animals they assist stay in their homes.
📍 Cropseyville
Visit →Upstate Underdog Rescue
Dog rescueA Troy-based, non-breed-specific dog rescue and Best Friends Network partner. Uses supported fostering and positive training to help at-risk dogs who struggle in shelters decompress at their own pace.
📍 Troy
Visit →Operation Snip
Spay/neuter & TNRAll-volunteer Troy-area nonprofit tackling cat overpopulation with humane trap-neuter-return and low-cost spay/neuter for low-income households. Friendly strays and kittens are vetted and placed for adoption.
📍 Troy / Capital Region
Visit →Whiskers Animal Benevolent League
Cat rescueThe Capital Region’s leading no-kill cat rescue, 100% volunteer-run since 1982. Adoption programs, PetSmart shelter locations, and a Barn Friends Forever program that places working barn cats.
📍 Albany
Visit →Kitten Angels
Cat rescueA volunteer-run, foster-based rescue for abandoned and orphaned kittens and pregnant or nursing mother cats, with adoption events around the Capital District and low-cost spay/neuter programs.
📍 Mayfield
Visit →North Country Wild Care
WildlifeA network of home-based, licensed wildlife rehabilitators covering nine upstate counties including Rensselaer. Found an injured or orphaned wild animal — a bird of prey, fox, fawn, or anything else? Call the hotline. (They are rehabilitators, not pest control.)
☎️ 518-964-6740 (wildlife hotline)
Visit →Start something
Don't see your group? Start one.
A book club, a cleanup crew, a neighborhood watch, a gardening swap — if you're organizing it, we'll help you find neighbors. Tell us about it and we'll list it here.