Public libraries of Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins Counties
Below are libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System that will be participating in The Great Give Back 2026! Check back often for updates; details about programs will begin to be shared around the beginning of September. Please contact libraries directly for questions regarding offered programming.
Click here to see past GGB events in Finger Lakes Library System.
Paw it Forward
10/1/26 – 10/31/26
For all ages
Collecting items needed for the Broome County Humane Society.
Registration is not required.
Edith B. Ford Memorial Library
The Great Giveback Hygiene Drive
10/1/26 – 10/17/26 (9:00 – 5:00)
For all ages
We are hosting a hygiene supply drive to ensure sustainability of our community hygiene closet located at the library. This Hygiene Closet is used daily by patrons in need of personal hygiene products not locally available at the local food pantries.
No registration necessary
Spencer Library
PROTEIN FOR THE SPENCER LIBRARY FOOD CUPBOARD
10/12/2026 – 10/31/2026
For all ages
Because of the devastating fire that burned the only grocery store in the town and surrounding areas, we are collecting non-perishable protein items for the food cupboard which we have in our front entry.
Donating to the program is not restricted.
George P. & Susan Platt Cady Library
Tales for Tails
10/1/2026 – 10/17/2026
For all ages
Join the Cady Library for our Great Give Back event of 2026! Stray Haven is always ready to rescue, heal, and rehome animals in need. But they can’t do it alone. This year we’re collecting items from their wish list from October 1st – 17th, These donations will be presented to Stray Haven at our Tales & Tails Story Time on Saturday, October 17th @ 11 AM.
Registration is NOT required and participation is open to all.
The Great Give Back: Helping Fill Backpacks for Local Children
10/1/26 – 10/31/26
For all ages
The Hazard and Aurora Libraries are partnering with the King Ferry Food Pantry.
Please help us collect foods for their BackPack Program, which provides food for weekends and school breaks to students experiencing food insecurity.
We invite community members to join in and help fill the backpacks! This supports an ongoing collaboration in our community of 2 libraries, the food pantry, and the school district.
Most wanted items:
tuna or chicken pouches
tuna or chicken salad kits
pudding and Jello cups
non-refrigerated pouch yogurts
Donations may be dropped off at either the Hazard Library or Aurora Library during the month of October.
Every donation makes a difference.
No registration necessary
Kellogg Free Library
Donations for Cincinnatus Volunteer Fire Department Family Halloween Party
10/1/2026 – 10/30/2026
For all ages
🎃 HALLOWEEN CANDY DONATIONS NEEDED! 🍬
Kellogg Free Library will be accepting donations of individually wrapped Halloween candy for the Cincinnatus Volunteer Fire Department Family Halloween Party!
This FREE community event is open to everyone and gives local children a fun and safe way to celebrate Halloween.
🍫 Every bag of candy helps!
Donations from our community help make it possible for the Fire Department to provide free treats to all the children who attend.
Community events like this are made possible through the generosity of people like you. ❤️
📍 Candy donations may be dropped off at Kellogg Free Library.
Thank you for helping make Halloween a little sweeter for our community! 🎃🍭
No registration is required.
Lansing Lunchbox
10/1/2026 – 10/17/2026
We are serving as a collection location for donations of cereal and shelf stable milk and milk alternatives to provide food assistance for school age kids and their families.
Help stock the shelves at Lansing Lunchbox so every Bobcat has a healthy breakfast every day. The schools offer free breakfast and lunch for every kid, but we are also concerned about weekends and school breaks when kids go hungry if the cupboards are bare. We can also collect monetary donations.
No registration required.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
9/28/2026 – 10/31/2026
For all ages
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – we are collecting food for our local food panty. Most needed items this year are pork and beans, ketchup, mustard and salt and pepper. Please make sure that anything that you bring in is not expired.
No registration required
Beautiful Bags for Bountiful Food
9/18/2026 – 10/17/2026
For all ages
People can pick up a paper grocery bag to decorate at home or at the library. The library collects the decorated bags for people to pick up and fill with food for the food pantry. So everybody can participate, either by coloring, by buying groceries, or both.
No registration required
Helping Our Heroes
10/1/2026 – 10/31/2026 (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
For all ages
Hogs for Heroes is a local charity that assists veterans throughout the year by offering free roofing, painting, ramps and much more. Annually they bring our community together through BBQ to honor and thank our Veterans, while raising funds to support the needs of local heroes who have served our country. To assist this charity we will be collecting the following: Kitchen/Grilling Utensils, Plastic Foldable Tables, Bottled Water, Non-Perishable, Assembled Raffle Baskets, Non-Perishable Raffle Basket Items, Double Roll Raffle Tickets, Napkins, Salt n Pepper Shakers, Paper Towels, Disinfectant Spray, Disposable Gloves M/L/XL, Plastic Grocery Bags, Large 30 gallon Trash Bags, Plastic Table Cloths.
No registration required, all people from all areas are welcome to donate to this cause.
Project Care Packs
10/1/26 – 10/31/26
All ages
The Seneca Falls Library will be collecting a variety of personal care items for our Great Give Back 2026 project. We are specifically looking for the following FULL-SIZE items: shampoo and conditioner, bar soap, laundry detergent, women’s & men’s deodorant & feminine hygiene products. Patrons will be able to scan a QR code that will bring them to an Amazon wish list item to purchase, or they are welcome to purchase items on their own. If patrons are able to purchase items in bulk, that would be greatly appreciated as we will use all donated items to create project care packs for families in our community. The care packs will be available at the Seneca Falls Backpack Food Pantry, located at 2 Butler Ave. in Seneca Falls. (Any family with a child in our school district is welcome to utilize the pantry.
No registration required and no restrictions.
All ages
Seymour Library will be collecting donations of non-perishable foods for St. Alphonsus Food Pantry. Their bags of Thanksgiving dinners feed hundreds of Auburn families every year. To help them give local families holiday meals, we will be collecting donations from October 1st- October 31st.
No registration required.
Thanksgiving Donations for St. Alphonsus Food Pantry
10/1/26 – 10/31/26
For all ages
Seymour Library will be collecting donations of non-perishable foods for St. Alphonsus Food Pantry. Their bags of Thanksgiving dinners feed hundreds of Auburn families every year. To help them give local families holiday meals, we will be collecting donations from October 1st- October 31st.
No registration required.
Tompkins County Public Library
Food Not Bombs Collection Drive
9/1/26 – 12/22/26
All ages
We are collecting items for our local Food Not Bombs. We accept: socks; NEW underwear; bottled drinks; backpacks; pet food; menstrual supplies; hygiene supplies; dried beans; dried pasta; rice; lentils; cooking oils; gloves; n95 masks; tinfoil. For more information, contact: FNBIthaca@proton.me
No registration necessary. We have a collection bin in our lobby!
Waterloo Library & Historical Society
Toy Drive
10/1/26 – 10/31/26
Age: children
The Waterloo Library & Historical Society will be conducting a Toy Drive for the Seneca County Christmas Project.
Anyone is welcome to donate, financial donations may be made directly to the Seneca County Christmas Project
Weedsport Free Library
The Great Book Drive
10/17/2026-10/24/2026 (10:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Program Age Group: any
We will collect books to donate to the maternity ward / NICU