NEWBURGH – Mount Saint Mary College’s Campus Ministry program collected 1,092 toys during their annual Giving Tree toy drive. The toys, donated by MSMC students, staff, and faculty, were presented to Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. Working in conjunction with Catholic Charities social workers and case managers, the toys were distributed to children in need throughout the agency’s three-county service area.
“Christmas will be merrier for hundreds of children and families in our community thanks to this incredible outpouring of support from the Mount Saint Mary College community,” said Hector Morell, director of Social and Human Services, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties. “For families that are struggling to make ends meet, this generosity is a true blessing.”
For a decade, the Campus Ministry program at Mount Saint Mary College has been coordinating an annual Giving Tree toy drive in conjunction with Catholic Charities. Participants from the college select a tag from the Christmas tree with a gift suggestion and then purchase the item to donate to Catholic Charities. The non-profit agency’s staff identifies families in need of all religions and arranges distribution of the toys in time for Christmas.
Throughout the Christmas season, Catholic Charities hosts a number of collections in order to help friends and neighbors in its three-county service area of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. In addition to the toy drive, throughout the year Catholic Charities participates in drives for coats and hygiene items, an adopt-a-family program, and giving trees at multiple parish locations.
