MID-HUDSON – Organizations, religious congregations, businesses and individuals come to the plate at holiday time to donate for those in need.
Free holiday dinners are offered at churches and community centers, toys are donated and warm winter coats and gloves are provided for residents who need to keep warm.
Troop K State Police, covering the east side of the Hudson River, collected 490 gifts in the US Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots program.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, with support from County Waste and Recycling, will provide bicycles to children in Columbia County for Christmas.
In Poughkeepsie, The shamrock Association, with the assistance of the Booze Fighters Motorcycle Club held their annual toy drive, collecting hundreds of toys for area children. Toys were delivered to the Grace Smith House and other shelters by former Shamrock President David Laffin and his daughter Lyla.
County Waste and Recycling delivered 30 bikes to the sheriff’s office s part of their “Annual Christmas Bike Promise.”
The sheriff’s office will deliver them before Christmas.
In Sullivan County, United Way, Glen Spey’s Camp Simcha and the county legislature conducted a toy exchange. The camp routinely collects toys for children during the holidays and 200 of those donations were given to the United Way for donation. County Legislator Nadia Rajsz, who represents that area of the county, has coordinated the effort for two years.
