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The
Meaningful Season: The Gift of Giving The holiday season has indeed fully arrived—lists have been made, parties are in full swing, families are gathering, and of course, the shopping—some have finished already and have everything wrappedand sent, others are only now getting started. And with the season andall its good tidings and cheer, comes the inevitable hustle, bustle, and yes, even a little (OK, sometimes a LOT ) of stress.
While
only the stingiest Scrooge doesn’t think of helping those less
fortunate in the community (especially during the holidays), oftentimes
people feel overwhelmed by the demands of the season. But giving to
a needy child or family can help instill a deeper, truer meaning to
traditional festivities and develop and nurture a less materialistic
nature in our children, our families, and ourselves. Most people agree
that communities with a strong commitment to all members are healthier
and better overall.
So
how do you go about getting your family or organization involved? What
organizations can you send your proceeds to? Who benefits from your
efforts? There are many different levels of giving readily accessible,
from simply buying a toy to drop in the nearby “Toys for Tots”
collection point, to bringing clothing and blankets to a local family
services distribution office, or adopting a specific child or family
and providing them with food and gifts for the holidays, or volunteering
time at a local soup kitchen. Instead of purchasing another scarf or
cologne set for an extended family member, you can organize your family
to “give” gifts in family members’ names to a local
charity. An office, school, or other community association may want
to organize a food drive to a local food bank or shelter or “adopt”
a needy child or a set of siblings and give them little holiday cheer.
Whatever your level of involvement, you can be assured that your donations
are very welcome and will make a real and immediate difference.
To
make your effort easier, we’ve assembled a list of local family
service organizations that help those in need in our immediate area.
While many other great organizations abound locally and internationally,
and are certainly deserving of your donations, these organizations are
on the front lines of our local communities, helping those in need by
directly giving them the donations collected. And if your holiday season
is so busy that you just can’t seem to squeeze in the time to
contribute, all will gratefully accept your donations and time after
the holidays as well. So, season’s greetings and good tidings
to all!
Ulster County Family Services| With the “Adopt a Star” program,
people in the community, such as agencies, businesses, offices, and
organizations can “adopt” a child, a family, a senior, or
a group of siblings for the holidays. They are given a “wish list”
for that individual or family. In addition, Ulster County Family Services
also accepts monetary donations. These are used primarily for the older
children and teens that are less likely to be chosen.
This
year, an exciting new program has begun seeking donations towards gift
certificates and/or scholarships for children to attend after school
activities like karate, gymnastics, art and dance classes, and summer
camp, which can enrich a child’s life and expand their horizons,
as well as help local businesses. With donations like this, children
can benefit year round to the gift given at the holidays.
The
gifts are due By dec. 17th, after which they are wraPPed and delivered
by the caseworkers to the families. contact ulster county family services
By calling 845-334-5400 fOr more information. Dutchess
County Outreach | Much like the Ulster County Family Services, an organization
can “adopt” an individual child or family for the holidays
as well as make a monetary donation. Dutchess County Outreach also takes
donations of food, household necessities such as blankets, clothes,
and even furniture to be matched to needy local families.
Dutchess
County Outreach also has volunteer opportunities for individuals with
more time to give. Seeing the results of your gift of time firsthand
is a very rewarding experience, and a great way to teach your children
about the importance of giving back to the community they live in.
Contact
Dutchess county Outreach at: 29 North Hamilton Street Suite 202, Poughkeepsie,
New York 12601 Phone: 845-454-3792 | website: www.dutchessoutreach.org
Family
Of Woodstock | Family of Woodstock has several locations and shelters
throughout Ulster County offering everything from free food, clothing,
and emergency shelter, to employment services, counseling, and outreach
programs. They have specific programs and shelters for teens, individuals
suffering from HIV/AIDS, as well as victims of domestic violence.
Family
of Woodstock also has a holiday “adoption” program for organizations
to help a specific child or family through the season. They have collection
sites for food, clothing, household items, personal care items, and
school supplies. Family of Woodstock accepts donations such as tickets
to events that can be given to an individual or child that might not
otherwise have a chance to enjoy such an enriching experience. Family
of Woodstock also appreciates donations of time as well with many opportunities
and locations to serve. Contact
Family of Woodstock’s administratiOn office at 845.331.7080 Or
visit their website for their many locations at www.familyofwoodstockinc.org
Food
Banks | Many communities and area organizations have their own local
food banks and soup kitchens to provide food and hot meals to the needy
in our communities. We have compiled a list of many of them, but a web
search of your local community’s resources may turn up others
as well. All take gifts of nonperishable food items or monetary donations.
Many also offer volunteer opportunities. You can also find a more extensive
listing of local food banks and soup kitchens at The Community Guide
website: www.firstcx.com/resources.html
Toys
For Tots | Every year, the United States Marines launches its holiday
toy drive for needy children across the country. Play is an important
part of childhood and is a crucial aspect in learning and social development.
The toys collected are distributed in the community where the toys were
collected. With drop off sites throughout the Hudson Valley, donating
to Toys for Tots is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. To find
out where to donate a new, unwrapped gift, visit the website at: www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp
and scroll down to your area. The Toys for Tots campaign also accepts
monetary donations and holds many events throughout the year to raise
funds for their drive.
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