Finger Lakes Library System Archived Events
Public libraries of Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins Counties

Below are libraries in Finger Lakes Library System ibrary System that participated in past instances of The Great Give Back! Return to the previous page for information about what libraries will be participating in GGB this year. Please contact libraries directly for questions regarding offered programming.
2021
Collecting Socks
September 16 – October 16
Coburn Free Library, in collaboration with Tioga County Rural Ministries, is collecting adult socks and winter gloves to be distributed by Tioga County Rural Ministries. We have many in our community who are in need of warm clothing this winter. Please support us by bringing adult sized socks and adult sized winter gloves to the library at 275 Main Street, Owego. Men’s winter gloves are especially needed. Thank you for supporting Tioga County, NY.
No registration required. Drop socks/gloves by the library during open hours. Coburn Free Library is located at 275 Main Street, Owego and open MWF from 10am-5pm, T/Th 2pm-7pm, and Saturdays from 1pm-4pm.
Giving to Our Neighbors at King Ferry Food Pantry
October 1-23
The Aurora Free Library and Hazard Library will be giving to our neighbors through donations of Thanksgiving foods to the King Ferry Food Pantry. As requested by the Food Pantry we are asking for donations specifically of Boxed Turkey Stuffing Mix, Shelf-Stable Turkey Gravy,
Small Canned Yams, and Cranberry Jelly. the pantry is also always in need of monetary donations to assist them in purchasing needed foods from the Food Bank. Donations can be dropped off at either library during their open hours between October 1-23.
Bread of Life Food and Personal Hygiene Collection
October 11-29
We will be collecting food and personal hygiene items for the Candor Bread of Life Food Pantry. Items to be donated should be brought to Candor Free Library.
Tioga County Warm Hands/Warm Feet Project
October 1-20 during library hours
Coburn Free Library, in collaboration with Tioga County Rural Ministries, is collecting adult socks and winter gloves to be distributed by Tioga County Rural Ministries. We have many in our community who are in need of warm clothing this winter. Please support us by bringing adult sized socks and adult sized winter gloves to the library at 275 Main Street, Owego. Men’s winter gloves are especially needed. Thank you for supporting Tioga County, NY.
No registration required. Drop socks/gloves by the library during open hours. Coburn Free Library is located at 275 Main Street, Owego and open MWF from 10am-5pm, T/Th 2pm-7pm, and Saturdays from 1pm-4pm.
The Great Give Back
October 1 – November 1
Cortland Free Library will be participating in the Great Give Back by holding a collection drive for Cortland Loaves & Fishes.
Cortland Loaves & Fishes is a local organization that provides hospitality and meals to anyone in the community. Currently they are unable to serve in-person meals so instead are providing brown bag lunches every day to those that stop in – about 100 day. We will be collecting items for their lunch program.
Requested items include:
Zippered sandwich bags
#10 brown lunch bags (slightly larger than a regular lunch bag)
Plastic silverware
Napkins
Individual condiment packets including: salt & pepper, ketchup, mustard and
mayonnaise
Individually packaged snacks including: chips, cookies, granola bars, pudding, etc.
Individually packaged juice boxes or pouches
Donations can be made during library hours, and will be collected through November 1st.
Donation Drive for the SPCA of Tompkins County
September 17-October 13
As a library system, we are closed to the public so we are asking staff to donate items from the SPCA’s “Urgently Needed Items” list. If a member of the public would like to donate, they can email jshonk@flls.org.
Giving to Our Neighbors at King Ferry Food Pantry
October 1-23
The Aurora Free Library and Hazard Library will be giving to our neighbors through donations of Thanksgiving foods to the King Ferry Food Pantry. As requested by the Food Pantry we are asking for donations specifically of Boxed Turkey Stuffing Mix, Shelf-Stable Turkey Gravy,
Small Canned Yams, and Cranberry Jelly. the pantry is also always in need of monetary donations to assist them in purchasing needed foods from the Food Bank. Donations can be dropped off at either library during their open hours between October 1-23.
The Great Give Back – Personal Care Items Collection
September 13 – October 16
The Lamont Memorial Free Library is collecting personal care items for the McGraw Community Food Pantry. A list of suggested donations can be found on the library’s website, www.lamontlibrary.org. Donations can be made during library hours until Saturday, October 16th.
The Great Give Back – Winter Coats & Jackets Collection
The Lamont Memorial Free Library is collecting winter coats and jackets for all ages. Donations must be laundered and ready to wear. Donations can be made during library hours until October 16th. Coats collected during the Great Give Back will be given away on October 19th and 21st. Hat and mitten sets from our Knit and Crochet group will also be available.
Lodi Whittier Library (Elizabeth Garnsey Delvan Library)
Thanksgiving Food Drive
October 16 – November 19
Our library is hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive to collect non-perishable food items to add the the Lodi Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving baskets distributed for the holiday. All are welcome to participate. Please see our website, www.lodilibrary.net for details.
Give Back to the Cortland County SPCA
September 15 – October 16
Peck Memorial Library will collect supplies for the Cortland County SPCA. You are able to drop off donations for them until October 16th. We welcome all items that are listed on our Facebook page.
The Great Library Give Back Knit-In
Saturday, October 16
Every fall the Homer Elks and their Operation Warm program provide winter coats to those in need. As part of NY Libraries’ Great Give Back, Phillips Free Library is teaming up with the Elks to collect new scarves, hats, and mittens for children and teens to be given away with the coats. Mark your calendars for Oct. 16th when we kick off our donation drive by hosting a “Knit-In” at the library for all local knitters and crocheters to make hats and mittens. If you want to provide hats and mittens to those in need, feel free to start your needles now! Watch for more details in the coming weeks.
Knit-In: Hat and Mitten Drive
October 16 – November 1
In conjunction with the Homer Elks Club, Phillips Free Library is collecting new hats, scarves and mittens for youth to be distributed with the coats as part of the Elks’ Operation Warm. We are having a Knit-In on 10/16 for people to come and knit hats, mittens, and scarves, drop off items for donation, learn how to knit, and attending a spinning (as in spinning wheel) demonstration. Items will continue to be collected through 11/1/2021. See our website for details.
The Great Give Back
October 1-16
We encourage all patrons to join us in creating beautiful KINDNESS CARDS in the library (supplies provided)! These cards will later be distributed to patrons in local nursing homes and Mozaic facilities. We are also asking people to donate items to the Beverly Animal Shelter.
Stewart B. Lang Memorial Library
Collecting Health and Beauty and Paper Products for the Local Food Pantry
September 7 – October 16
We will be collecting health and beauty and personal paper products to supplement the local food pantry.
Waterloo Library & Historical Society
Warm Up the Community
October 8-16
Bring your warm coats, gloves, mittens or hats to the Waterloo Library & Historical Society, 31 E Williams St. Waterloo, from October 8th-October 16th during regular library hours. Items will be donated to Ashia’s closet in honor of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and the Seneca County Coat Project help keep our community warm. Drop off any items during regular library hours.
Stray Haven Food and Supplies Drive
October 11-16
Waverly Free Library (Oct. 11-15) and East Waverly Park (Oct. 16)
We will be hosting a week-long food and supplies drive for Stray Haven Humane Society, which will conclude at a program by Sled Dogs of Smokey Hill on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m.
2020
Give to KIND
September 1-October 19
Please donate diapers of any size and wipes to the bin outside on the library porch. We will be helping our neighbors in need by distributing these diapers to families in need.
The Great Give Back at Aurora Free Library
September 24 – 17
The Aurora Free Library and Hazard Library Association will be joining together to support the King Ferry Food Pantry through the Great Give Back. Please help your neighbors in the Southern Cayuga Community through donations of boxed cereals and canned mixed fruit. You can drop off donations at either library during their open hours from Sat 9/17-Sat 9/24.
Park Clean Up
March 3, 2021 from 10 am – 12 pm
Berkshire Creek Side Park
For all ages. Spring clean up. Registration at the Berkshire Free Library – Come dressed for the weather
Lodi Whittier Library (Elizabeth Garnsey Delvan Library)
2020: Paper Products Drive
October 17 – November 21
Lodi Whittier Library is hosting a community-wide collection of toilet paper and paper towels to benefit the Lodi Community Food Pantry. Collection bins are inside and outside the library.
Stewart B. Lang Memorial Library
Collecting Paper Products
October 10 – 24
In celebration of the Great Give Back library initiative, we will be collecting items for the local food pantry that are always in short supply and cannot be purchased with food pantry funds. Personal paper products and health and beauty aids will be collected from October 10 to October 24 2020. Patron may drop items off during our open hours or leave them in the drop box. We are proud to be a part of this neighbors helping neighbors event!