How Holiday Helping Hand assisted Dutchess residents this season and beyond
Each year, the Poughkeepsie Journal and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region raise funds for Dutchess County programs that assist local kids and families in having a happy holiday season through gift card giveaways, breakfasts with Santa and holiday dinners.
The funds raised in the annual Holiday Helping Hand campaign go toward the following holiday season's programs — donations received last year enabled programs to function this year.
Over the past two months, our reporters have shared stories of those efforts in action.
We introduced you to Poughkeepsie volunteers sorting crates of children's books to be distributed at a local shelter and teenagers learning skills to support their future in the workforce, and their expression as artists.
People who have been incarcerated found a way to move forward and thrive in our local communities. Students forged connections after school through music, sports and adding their thoughts to a collaborative podcast. Meal prep training fostered confidence and independence at a new life skills lab.
These programs were assisted by donations to the 2022-2023 Holiday Helping Hand campaign.
Now we look ahead to the groups who will benefit from our community's generosity next holiday season. As of Jan. 11, 219 donations have been received, amounting to $24,130.38.
The following donations were made to the 2023-24 Holiday Helping Hand campaign, grouped in the order they were received:
From Jan. 5-11
Dorothy Terenski, $50
In Memory of Julia Marus, From Julie & Ron Linton, $500
Sherman Furniture Rentals, $500
Anonymous, $10
From Dec. 29 to Jan. 4
Anonymous, $50
Ann Constantinople, $50
Ann Weeks, $100
Gail & Frank La Rose, $100
Janet Huston, $50
Anonymous, $100
Marilyn & David Lampell, $102.65
Bernard Dillon, $51.32
Kathleen Bartles, $1000
John St. Leger, $153.98
Susan Partington, $25.66
Stephen Emanuel, $51.32
Michael Levine, $51.32
Anonymous, $153.98
Lynne & Robert Kopac, $205.31
In Memory of Ken & Dot Robertson, Arthur & Ada Chartier, and Rev. Richard Chartier, by Grace Chartier, $100
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey S. Graham, $125
Gary J. Hilton, $100
Anonymous, $100
Maureen J. Taylor, $100
From Dec. 22-28
In Honor of the Ed Boone Family, From Kathryn & Edwin Boone, $100
Anonymous, $250
William & Elizabeth Harrel, $75
Jim & Inge Gallagher, $100
Angela & Peter Fatzinger, $125
Theresa & Patrick O'Neill, $50
In Memory of Pacu Maguier, $100
The at Sabellico Greenhouses - Florist, $250
Anonymous, $75
Anonymous, $25
In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Louis E. Breglia, From L. Eugene Breglia, Jr, $100
Anonymous, $20
In Memory of Brian McGrath, $25
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $100
Dana Lynn & James Herrington, $200
In Memory of Brian McGrath, From Kenneth McGrath, $25
Jessie and Frances Sutherland, $50
Rebecca Wisniewski & William Lewis, $120.23
Anonymous, $50
In Memory of Edward & Alma Poplawski, From Lisa Ann Poplawski, $200
Ron & Mary Jane Von Allmen, $100
Carolyn & Richard McAleese, $25
In Memory of Paul McCue, From Ann Gross, $36
In Memory of Richard C. Travis, From Sheila J. Travis, $25
Myra Morales, $100
Shirley D. Ranieri, $50
In Memory of Pamela Dederer Pecorelli, From Elizabeth Dederer, $50
Rachel Reisman, $100
Anonymous, $25
Thomas E. McNamee, $14.87
Irven & Gretchen Carpenter, $102.65
In Memory of Ken Klick, $50
Anne Constantinople, $100
Patricia Koch, $25
Anonymous, $100
Thad & Mildred Jones, $100
In Memory of Kimberly Doughty Abrams, $150
David and Judith Longacre, $51.32
In Memory of John Murnin, From Joan Murnin, $50
In Memory of Ronald Creeden, From Maureen Creeden, $100
From Dec. 15-21
Victoria & Mike Dennin, $25
Anonymous, $1
Anonymous, $25
In Memory of Delores Kelly and in Honor of Kevin Kelly, From Elyse Mansfield, $25
Anonymous, $15
Rosemary & Alan Thomas, $250
Chris, Linda, and Helen Harden, $50
Christine Petrone, $50
Jinny & Robert Goff, $25
In Memory of My Parents Mary & Philip Hoag, From Amy Hoag Lynch, $30
Charles and Shirley Saylor, $125
Anonymous, $150
Theresa & John Brewster, $25
Anonymous, $25
Elizabeth Dederer, $100
Michael & Teresa Caruso, $30
In Memory of Tony Buccelli, From Allison & Dwight, $100
In Honor of Nathan Lawrence-Paine, From Anonymous, $100
In Memory of Our Loved Ones, Family, & Friends, Anonymous, $50
In Memory of Jeff Raymond, From Nancy & Bruce Raymond, $100
Arlene Becker, $25.66
Diane Moody, $51.32
Maureen Logan, $513.29
Rita Banner, $102.65
Renate Friedrichsen, $50
In Loving Memory of Roy & Helen Dunham, From Cheryl & Ed Venuto, $100
Sheila Davis, $20
Anonymous, $250
Dutchess County Home Bureau, $70
From Dec. 8-14
Anonymous, $51.32
Al Cerilli, $100
Kara Cerilli, $100
Anonymous, $200
In Memory of Linda Caporuscio, From Gary & Linda Caporuscio, $100
In Memory of Sandra T. Vana, From Llmar Vana, $50
Dr. Sheldon & Roz Werner, $100
Anonymous, $100
In Memory of the Cotton and Baldwin Families, From Michael & Carol Cotton, $100
Barbara Zawadzinsky, $50
Anonymous, $50
Smithfield Presbyterian Church, $100
Edmond Selby, $100
In Memory of Robert Homko, From Jacqueline Homko, $25
Clarence & Joan Furman, $50
In Memory of Vincent Mullen and James O'Neill, From Michael Mullin and Erin O'Neill, $200
Ann Marie Maiello, $50
Anonymous, $500
In Memory of My Friends Wayne Ennist, Charles R. Johnson, Eric Gugleberger, and Thomas Jaques, From Louis Ciminaro, $50
In Memory of Marie English, Ruth Morey, & Joan Whiteley, From Elfriede Tillman, $100
Jean & William O'Neill, $250
Linda S. McReynolds, $25
In Memory of Mary & Richard W. Booth, Sr. & Rachel Cusher Vittone, From Gerald & Linda Vittone, $150
In Memory of The Cotton and Baldwin Families from Michael and Carol Cotton, $100
Michael Hogan & Joan Magnuson, $100
Linda McReynolds, $50
Stephen & Cheryl Kerins, $256.64
Anonymous, $51.32
Albert & Lorraine Hughes, $100
In Memory of James R. Smith, From Joan Smith and Family, $100
From Dec. 1-7
Charles & Roni Stein, $100
In Memory of Joe Resta, Love Renie, $75
Linda McCluskey, $50
Mr. & Mrs. Clarence N. Glover, Jr., $300
Anonymous, $45
Anonymous, $150
In Memory of Marty Quick, Love Peggie, $100
Diane Fiscina, $200
Shirley Lee, $25
Kathleen Bartles, $1000
Pat & John Varricchio, $100
In Memory of our Dad "Chuck", From James Collins, $50
In Memory of P. David Dobbs, From Gloria Dobbs, $200
In Memory of Dennis M. Powers & Louis M. Brosang, From Dennis & Barbara Powers, $100
In Memory of My Husband, Edward Nadeau, From Jackie Nadeau, $100
In Memory of Stanley Hamm & Anna Moore, From Mae Hamm, $25
Anthony & Diane Galucci, $51.32
In Memory of Josie V., $10
Lorraine Carbone, $25
Anonymous, $100
Angelia & Danielle Kassow, $100
In Memory of Ray & Len Kistner, From Bernard Kistner, $100
In Honor of Our Grandkids, Our Next Generation, From Judie & Lee Pagones, $50
Margaret Barton, $50
Frank & Judith Darrow, $200
Judith Perlman, $100
Donald & Christine Stammer, $50
Cathy Hingos, $30.79
In Memory of Patrice Abruzzo, From Judith Abruzzo-Wasilewski, $25
In Memory of Debby S. Baldwin, From Harry Baldwin, $500
In Memory of John C. Ritchie, From Diana Ritchie, $100
In Memory of Melissa D. Ritchie, From Diana Ritchie, $100
Carol Gray, $50
In Memory of Our Parents and Grandparents Walt & Joyce Herrmann, and Curtis and Anna Martinson, Love Jim, Cindy, David, And Jeff, $50
Gary Zadany, $100
Mia Anderson, $25
Pam & Bill Dahncke, $25
William Peckham, $100
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $50
In Memory of Father, Donald Doria and Mother, Pearl Woodin, From Rebecca Hastings, $20
Frank & Maureen Derasmo, $75
Keith Axelrod, $102.65
Gerald & Margaret Kelly, $100
John & Laura Williams, $300
Stuart Leydon, $20
Anonymous, $51.32
From Nov. 17-30
Anonymous, $25.66
Anonymous, $102.65
Natalie & Chris Thorsen, $51.32
Paul Rich, $50
Anonymous, $50
Anonymous, $100
Philip & Frances Shepherd, $100
Gerald & Helene Lutz, $50
In Memory of Dorthy & Alden Traver, From Charlie Traver, $100
Andrew & Kristine MacDonald, $100
Allan L Haines, $50
In Memory of Jerry & Shirley Delaney and Chris Hunt, Jr, From Michael & Debra Brown, $100
Anonymous, $5
In Memory of Dominick & Helen Palmeri From Norbert & Maryanne Hart, $25
Ann S Mercer, $50
In Memory of Our Parents Lorraine & Bob Goeway, and Bea & Mike Grega, from Linda Stow & Vincent Grega, $100
Dorothy Tervenski, $50
Nancy Ann Krisniski, $25
Shirley & Richard Granda, $50
In Memory of Erin Shanley, From Valerie Shanley, $100
Philip & Frances Shepherd, $100
The Lunch Bunch, $50
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $100
Edgar & Phyllis Stamy, $25
Anonymous, $16
In Loving Memory of Our Daughter, From Richard & Elizabeth Dorsey, $100
Anonymous, $100
In Memory of Emma L Whitehead, $25
In Memory of Our Parents, From L.K. & Girjesh Parashar, $75
Karen and Jim O'Brien, $153.98
Shirley & Richard Granda, $40
Anonymous, $256.64
In Memory of Erin Shanley, From Valerie Shanley, $100
Anonymous, $25
Bernard & Shirley Handel, $150
In Memory of Olive H Doty, From Cynthia Doty Stirling, $50
John & Barbara Marmillo, $100
In Memory of my husband, Gerald C Becker, and Daughter, Betsy M Mulder, From Margie Becker, $100
In Memory of R. Trueman Witherwax, From Dorothy Witherwax, $25
Anonymous, $50
Anonymous, $50
John & Harriet Furey, $250
In Memory of T-Bone, From Anonymous, $20
In Memory of My Husband Vince Libretti, From Rose Libretti, $100
Frank & Rose Van Zanten, $300
Kathy Hogan
As of Nov. 16
In Memory of Chloe Rose Evans and Jim Swenson, from Patricia Evans, $25
David and Jo Lynne Johnson, $100
Church Communities Foundation, $1030.25
William and Geraldine Browne, $25
Charles A. Pellegrino, $500
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Holiday Helping Hand donations will assist Dutchess residents in 2024
