Storefront resource establishment celebrates 7 years
The doors were wide-open at 274 Main St. on Saturday afternoon, and there was a steady stream of people in and out of the building, there to wish Ann Molina and the Board of Director of The Center of Highland Falls, Inc. well.
The event was the seventh anniversary of the … business? No. Club? No. Government office? No. Church? No.
None of those titles work for the non-profit Community Center, a simple storefront space that offers everything from classes to resources to senior citizen activities to simple meeting space. For the last seven years — even through the 18 months or so of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Center has simply been a partner to all residents and friends of Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery.
Here’s a sampling of what Molina and her friends do, or have done:
— They host the kids’ March Mania basketball tournament each spring.
— They are the impetus behind the Community Coalition, a group that meets monthly with community leaders and the Orange County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council to combat substance abuse.
— They provide ‘learning academies’ for children, teaching everything from penmanship to banking to volunteering.
— In conjunction with the Town of Highlands, they provide weekly social activities for senior citizens. They also annually recognize, seniors who have served the town and village.
— They collect donations to give to those who need them — food, school supplies, hygiene goods, winter gear. They make sure those who need them get those donations.
— They support families during the holiday season.
— They register voters.
— They honor veterans.
— They sponsor trips (A show in Lancaster, Penn, casinos, Niagara Falls and New Orleans in the year ahead.)
— They give away books.
— They provide health screenings in conjunction with the Orange County Office of the Aging.
— They help the community recycle.
— They support other community groups — the American Legion, local thrift shops
— They host educational programs.
— They encourage others to get involved in the community.
And that last one, Molina says, may be the most important.
“We want to help build a sense of community and common purpose for all the residents of the Town of Highlands — Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and West Point,” she says. She quotes President Jimmy Carter: “Our dreams are big, our hopes are high, our goals long term, and the path difficult. But, the only failure is not to try.”
While Saturday was a fun celebration, Molina noted that it’s back to work right away. She stood near the door of The Center on Saturday handing out booklets filled with flyers for upcoming programs.
Want to get involved? Just stop by 274 Main St. Want to help financially support The Center? Donations (not that Molina is asking … she’s willing to work for every cent) can be mailed to PO Box 197, Highland Falls, NY 10928.
