News digest
Hospice officials warn of donation scam Newburgh - Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties does not call to solicit donations over the telephone or ask for cash or credit card information, according to an advisory from Janice Valentino, the group’s director of marketing. “It has been brought to our attention that persons are calling and claiming to be a volunteer of Hospice of Orange& Sullivan Counties and is asking for donations and credit card information,” Valentino said in a press release. “If you receive this type of solicitation please notify your local or state police.” In the spirit of the season, Valentino ended the press release this way: “Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties would like to thank all who support this organization throughout the year.” Toy and food drives at Monroe Free Library Monroe - The Monroe Free Library is providing a drop-off site for both toys and food this holiday season. The library is collecting new and unopened toys for the U. S. Marine Corps’ Toys For Tots program. The library is also collecting food on behalf of the food pantry of the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe. Both Toys For Tots and the food pantry are devoted to distributing resources locally, so all of the donations will be delivered to families in Orange County. For more information, call the library at 845-783-4411 or visit online at http://monroelibrary.org. Still time to win an iPod Touch at the library Monroe - The Monroe Free Library is selling raffle tickets for a fourth-generation, 64-gigabyte iPod touch. Tickets cost $3 each, or $5 for 2, or $10 for $5. The iPod Touch has a 3.5 inch video screen, and is actually a small computer with Wi-Fi capacity, capable of displaying videos and browsing the Internet. The retail price is $399. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn at the seventh annual Holiday Book and Bake Sale on Saturday, Dec. 4. Every year, members of the library staff and the Friends of the Library volunteer their time to sell books, videos and homemade goodies. The proceeds are donated to the library. This year, in addition to their regular Saturday events, the Children’s Department will feature special walk-in crafts and activities for kids at the Boutique. The event will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monroe PBA kicks off annual toy drive Monroe - Now through Dec. 20, the Monroe Police PBA will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children. People or organizations who would like to donate can do so by dropping off toys anytime at the lobby of Monroe Police Headquarters, 104 Stage Road in the Village of Monroe. Officers will begin distributing toys the week of Dec. 20 until all toys have been given away. Families in need of gifts can call the station at 782-8644 or stop in and ask to be put on the list.