2 books for every child; holiday gift program stimulates the minds of those in need

Geoffrey Wilson
·4 min read

Of all the initiatives undertaken by Poughkeepsie’s branch of the American Association of University Women, one of their most central is getting books in the hands of children.

“There's been a lot of research that has shown that children who are in print-rich environments have much better success rates in school,” said Elizabeth Harrel, the public relations chair for the American Association of University Women’s Poughkeepsie branch. “So, that is our purpose.”

While some families may struggle to bring books into their homes, whether due to financial hardship or lack of accessibility to a library, the AAUW hopes to help with aid from Holiday Helping Hand.

Celia Serotsky, president of the Poughkeepsie branch of the American Association of University Women wraps a donated Christmas gifts on December 16, 2022. The AAUW received $900 from Holiday Helping Hand to purchase two books for each of the children currently living in Hudson River Lodging, transitional housing made available through Hudson River Housing.

Holiday Helping Hand has served Dutchess County charities for 40 years, raising funds for holiday programs, gatherings and other charitable programs. The charity drive, a collaboration between the Poughkeepsie Journal and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, raised more than $40,700 last year, with money split between 32 charities.

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The AAUW received $900 from Holiday Helping Hand to purchase two books for each of the children currently living in Hudson River Lodging, transitional housing made available through Hudson River Housing. The gift will benefit a total of 97 children.

“We focus on children who are from families from low and moderate income,” Harrel said.

From left, Betty Harrell, program director and Sue Doyle from the Poughkeepsie branch of the American Association of University Women discuss a book while wrapping gifts on December 16, 2022. The AAUW received $900 from Holiday Helping Hand to purchase two books for each of the children currently living in Hudson River Lodging, transitional housing made available through Hudson River Housing.

The AAUW Poughkeepsie branch, founded in 1925, boasts roughly 250 members consisting of people with at least a community college degree.

“When we have monthly meetings we get about 50 or 60 people that come, and they focus on a lot of different issues that we have,” Harrel said. “We've had it on the environment and women's health and so on.”

The organization focuses on numerous initiatives, including aiding victims of domestic violence in navigating the court systems, providing accessible period care and improving literacy.

“Leading to Reading is the community service to build literacy, particularly in young children, but we deal with children of all ages,” Harrel said.

When it comes to literacy, Harrel said the organization aims to meet children where they are.

“We have laundromat libraries, which are used books that we get from the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library, and those are places where children spend time waiting so they have a chance to read the books and keep them,” she said. "This past year, we started little libraries near schools and churches.”

How to donate to Holiday Helping Hand

Holiday Helping Hand
Holiday Helping Hand

For four decades, Holiday Helping Hand, a joint venture between the Poughkeepsie Journal and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, has funded Dutchess County programs that assist local kids and families in having a happy holiday season, through the generosity of local donors. The donations through this season will fund programs next year that include warm clothing, gift card and utility bill payment giveaways, and holiday parties.

To donate, visit uwdor.org/hhh or mail a check to Holiday Helping Hand, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, 75 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Checks should be made payable to Holiday Helping Hand.

As of Dec. 22, 223 donations have been made to the 2022-23 Holiday Helping Hand campaign, totaling $24,531. In the past week, 38 donations were made, totaling $3,887. They are:

Anonymous, $25Anonymous, $50Eleanor Relyea, $100In Memory of Ann & Louis Barish, From Judith Perlman, $50In Memory of Wayne Ennist, Charles R. Johnson, Eric Gugleberger, From Louis J. Ciminaro & Anita Ciminaro, $50Anonymous, $50Patrick & Theresa O'Neill, $50Sheila Davis, $25Anonymous, $150Virginia Van Vlack, $25Jeff & Carol McGrath, $50Michael & Joan Hogan, $100Polikoff Family, $35In Memory of Kimberly Doughty Abrams, $150In Memory of Vincent Mullen & James O'Neill, From Michael Mullen & Erin O'Neill, $200Thad & Mildred Jones, $100In Memory of Guy Barton, From Margaret Barton, $50Mr. & Mrs. G. Hemingway, $50Rebecca Wisniewski & William Lewis, $120.22Smithfield Presbyterian Church, $100In Memory of James R. Smith, From Joan Smith, $100Rita Lominski & Lisa Rogers, $200In Memory of Herbert L. Whitehead, from Carl Whitehead. , $25Ron & Mary Jane Von Allmen, $100In Memory of Ronald Phillip, From Barbara J. Phillip, $50Anonymous, $100Angela & Peter Fatziger, $100In Memory of Stanley M. & Mae Dahowski, From Gerald E. & Linda Dahowski, $50In Memory of Jean Cox Durkin, From Colleen Daley, $50John & Peggy Latino, $20Mark & Joanne Chitjian, $50Anonymous, $50Thomas Mannion, $25Fred Wander, $102.65In memory or our parents Janet & George Alexander & Vincent & Jackie Moody, From Gary & Diane Moody, $102.65Robert & Lynne Kopac, $513.29Mark & Maureen Logan, $513.29

In memory of the deceased Baldwin & Cotton Families – always in our hearts, From Michael & Carol Cotton, $205.31

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: American Association of University Women aided by Holiday Helping Hand