Highland Falls Mayor has plans to foster good will!
Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio has announced three programs to benefit community residents in December.
Operation Gratitude
There is a holiday tree in the lobby of Village Hall that the mayor is hoping to fill with cards and notes from Highlands residents that he can deliver to doctors, nurses and other health care workers at St. Luke’s Hospital later this month.
“Many of these folks will not be home for Christmas with their families,” he said, “I’d love for us to say thank you and happy holidays to them as a community.”
Toy Drive
No child in the Town of Highlands will be without a present to open this coming Christmas. For the 27th year, D’Onofrio has placed a huge “Toy Box” in the lobby of Village Hall. Community residents are asked to donate a new, unwrapped gift that will eventually make its way to a child in this community who might not otherwise have a gift under the tree this holiday season.
“This holiday season is a time for giving and caring for one another” D’Onofrio said. Gifts for children in the categories of ‘tot’, ‘child’ and ‘teen’ can be dropped off at Village Hall daily through Dec. 21. Village Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Presents of books, music, gift certificates, health and beauty items and more will be accepted; the items need to be new and unwrapped.
Letters to Santa
D’Onofrio has been in touch with Santa again this year and has announced that he will help get letters from local children to Santa in time for the holidays. He’ll make sure that all children who write to the Jolly Old Guy get an answer!
Letters should be sent to Santa, c/o The Mayor, 303 Main Street, Highland Falls, NY 10928. In order to get them to Santa on time, and to get an answer back, the letters need to be at Village Hall by Thursday, Dec. 17. To ensure a response, the letters must include the child’s name and address, preferably written legibly by a parent or guardian.
Pet Supplies
“We also want to make sure that the faithful ‘best friends’ of the community have a good holiday too,” the mayor said. There is now a box in Village Hall dedicated specifically to the collection of dog and cat food, cat litter, blankets and towels, dog and cat grooming supplies and dog and cat toys.
“We hope that residents who have their own pets will take a few minutes to help us provide for some of the needy animals of the community,” he said.
All donations will be used to help support local families which need help to support their own pets, or area animal shelters.
For more information on any of the programs, contact D’Onofrio at 446-3400 or mayorjoe@highlandfallsny.org. Anyone who knows of families who may need help this holiday season is encouraged to let D’Onofrio know. He typically works in conjunction with local clergy and other groups to make sure all families in need are reached.
