Teachers hold food drive at conferences
During the month of November, the Saugerties Central School District held two evenings for parent/teacher conferencing, taking the opportunity to include a food drive at each of the five campuses. Food collected at the junior and senior high school was donated to the Atonement Lutheran Church on Market St. All four elementary school collections were donated to Kings Fire Church to assist local families with the necessary items for a Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to all who donated and continue to make it possible for families in the community in need.
Sawyer Motors raises funds for Cahill Elementary
As part of the Chrysler brand’s ongoing effort to help elementary and middle school students, Sawyer Motors held a Drive for the Kids® fundraising event on Oct. 17 during the school’s 5K run. Participants earned a $10 contribution to the school from the Chrysler brand by taking a brief test drive in a 2015 model Town & Country, Chrysler 200 or Chrysler 300 vehicle during the event, which raised $1,410 to be used for educational purposes.
Since its inception in 1993, the Drive for the Kids® program has contributed more than $6 million directly to local schools, helping parents and educators raise funds for everything from playgrounds and field trips to reading programs and new computers. More information is available at www.drive4kids.com.
Diamond Mills donates turkeys
For the third consecutive year, Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern donated 800 turkeys to the annual Thanksgiving Meal Program organized by People’s Place Food Pantry and Thrift Store. The turkeys, along with complementary side dishes, were distributed at no charge to local families of the greater Kingston area on Monday, Nov. 23. “We live in an amazing community that is fortunate to have supportive businesses who continue to step up and help nonprofits like People’s Place,” said Christine Hein, executive director of the organization.
Safe charitable giving
The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises donors to consult www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/national before contributing to national charities. This is the website for the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, which helps donors make informed giving decisions by providing Charity Reports and advances high standards of conduct among organizations that solicit contributions from the public through its Accountability Standards. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
Toys wanted
The Saugerties Area Council of Churches is seeking donations before Wednesday, Dec. 9 for the 24th annual Christmas Toy Store at the Reformed Church, 173 Main St. The store provides toys and gifts for needy families in Saugerties. Most of the churches in the Council participate along with many clubs and civic groups and the teachers and staff of the Saugerties Central School District. The Council is asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children ages infant up to 18 years old. Toys may be dropped off at Sawyer Savings Bank, M&T Bank, Ulster Savings Bank in Barclay Heights, Saugerties Town Hall or The Flower Garden before the Dec. 9 collection date. Monetary donations used to buy gifts are also welcome and may be mailed to Christmas Toy Store, Saugerties Area Council of Churches, Box 723, Saugerties NY 12477.
Food pantry
The Food Pantry, 44 Livingston St., is open Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Donations of food items may be dropped off during those hours.
Monetary donations should be mailed to the pantry’s post office box, not to the physical address on Livingston St. To make a monetary donation, send a check made out to Saugerties Area Council of Churches Food Pantry (noting “food pantry” on the memo line) to PO Box 723, Saugerties, NY 12477. For more information, visit saugertiesfoodpantry.sawyervision.org, or call 246-6885.
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