Mount Saint Mary College Community Donated More than 700 Toys to Catholic Charities

Toys to be shared with agency clients in need through Christmas giving programs

NEWBURGH – This Christmas will be merrier for hundreds of children and families thanks to a generous donation of toys presented to Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster by Mount Saint Mary College’s campus ministry program. More than 700 toys were donated by MSMC students, staff, and faculty to Catholic Charities’ annual toy drive. Working in conjunction with social workers and case managers, the toys will be distributed to children in need throughout the agency’s service area.

“This incredible outpouring of support from our friends at the Mount is a blessing to Catholic Charities and the families we serve,” said Kristin Jensen, Chief Advancement Officer at Catholic Charities. “Each year, student volunteers from campus ministry work diligently to ensure that hundreds of children in our community, who would otherwise go without, awake to find a gift waiting for them Christmas morning.”

The campus ministry program at Mount Saint Mary College has been organizing an annual toy drive in conjunction with Catholic Charities for nearly a decade. The non-profit agency’s staff identifies families in need and arranges distribution of the toys in time for Christmas. The donations are distributed regardless of race or religion.

“I am very proud of our MSMC community and its participation in this wonderful work. I am humbled by their generosity,” said Fr. Gregoire Fluet, PhD, Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry at Mount Saint Mary College, who helped deliver the donated toys.

Throughout the Christmas season, Catholic Charities hosts a number of collections in order to help friends and neighbors in its three-county service area of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. In addition to the toy drive, throughout the year Catholic Charities participates in drives for coats and hygiene items, an adopt-a-family program, and giving trees at multiple parish locations.
Anyone interested in making a gift or cash donation to any of these programs, may contact Kristin Jensen at 845.294.5124, ext. 303 or online through Catholic Charities’ secure website donation page at www.cccsos.org.

 

Students from Mount Saint Mary College’s campus ministry program delivered more than 700 toys to Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. The toys were donated by students, staff, and faculty and will be distributed to children in need throughout Catholic Charities’ service area. Pictured in front of the mountain of donated toys are Melody Sarno, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Fr Gregoire Fluet, Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry, MSMC students Amanda Daigle and Alyssa Picard, and Michael Peters, Resource Exchange Coordinator for Catholic Charities.