Ramapo Catskill Library System

Public libraries of Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties

Below are libraries in the Ramapo Catskill Library System that will be participating in The Great Give Back 2023! 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.

Albert Wisner Public Library

The Great Give Back Food Drive
October 1st-31st
All ages
The Great Give Back Food Drive takes place throughout October. Please bring donations of nonperishable food items to the library all month long, or stop by the Warwick Children’s Book Festival on October 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.! We’ll have authors and illustrators selling and signing books, food trucks, music, crafts, the Great Give Back Food Drive and more! The Great Give Back Food Drive benefits the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry, a community-supported initiative that helps alleviate food insecurity for hungry residents in the Town of Warwick.
No registration required

Cornwall Public Library

Storm Support Community Collection
July 10th-August 1st
All ages
In the spirit of the GREAT GIVE BACK, the Cornwall Public Library was collecting items for the people of Highland Falls. Our sister library in Highland Falls was the distribution point for their community. Donations of water and personal items for infants to Seniors for those who lost personal property during this unprecedented storm.
Program closed

Be a Summer Lifesaver
August 8th from 11:00am-5:00pm
18 years and older
We started our Great Give Back challenge early this year with a Community Blood Drive There. Our Cornwall Public Library blood donors were real lifesavers!
Program closed

Cragsmoor Free Library

The Great Give Back Food Drive
October 1st-21st from 10:00am-4:00pm
All ages
The Great Give Back! Please donate foods items and Household goods to be donated to Family of Ellenville. You may bring your items during normal Library business hours.
No registration required

Ellenville Public Library and Museum

Ulster County Food Fight
September 1st – October 21st
All ages
September 1st-October 21st, as part of the Great Give Back, Ellenville Public Library and Museum will be participating in the Ulster County Food Fight! Patrons will be able to help us win bragging rights for the year by coming in and donating non-perishable food items which will be distributed to local food pantries in Ellenville. Every time a patron donates non-perishable food items in the library, they will receive a raffle ticket. These raffle tickets may be placed into a drawing for one of three fabulous prizes. The drawing for this raffle will be on Monday, October 23rd.
No registration required

Donations of Dignity
October 1st-31st
All ages
Ellenville Public Library and Museum will once again be collecting Donations of Dignity October 1st-31st as part of the Great Give Back! Please donate any unopened soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products (such as pads and tampons), combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. These items are greatly needed, but are not covered by foodstamps. Please drop off any such items to the box located near the desk inside of the library during open hours. We greatly appreciate your help!
No registration required

Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
October 13th from 11:30am-4:30pm
Adults 18+
We want your blood! Friday, October 13th at the Ellenville Public Library. Our wonderful donors will receive a sweet treat for their help!
Visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive to sign up for a time to give blood. You must be 18 years or older to give blood. For more information, please visit redcrossblood.org

Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library

Community Clothing Swap
October 14th from 11:00am-2:00pm
All ages
Kid’s grow fast & buying them new clothes for every growth spurt can be expensive! To help out, the library is participating in The Great Give Back by hosting our 3rd Community Clothing Swap. We invite you to bring children’s clothes of all sizes to the library beginning September 20th. We’ll collect clean clothing (including shoes & costumes) in good condition through October 11th. Bring any donations to the children’s room at the library. We will organize clothing by size & all are invited to come “shop” beginning at 11am on October 14th. Please bring a re-usable bag(s) to fill with new-to-you kids’ clothes to help us keep this event as sustainable as possible. You do not need to donate clothes to pick up new clothes. 
No registration required

Finkelstein Memorial Library

Donations for Birthday Boxes (a Meals on Wheels of Rockland initiative)
October 7th – November 7th
All ages
Meals on Wheels of Rockland County makes every effort to bring joy to the seniors they serve. Part of this is delivering Birthday Boxes to those who have reached their late 90s+.
We are collecting the following items: Small bottles of hand lotion & hand sanitizer, Cozy socks (new), Lip balm, Small packs of crayons/colored pencils, Individually wrapped, sugar-free, shelf-stable treats (NO candy), Homemade birthday cards, Birthday crowns/sashes, Birthday signs/banners, Birthday napkins, Noise makers.
No registration required

Florida Public Library

Food Drive for Florida Food Pantry
October 1st-31st
All ages
The library will accept donations of specific in-need items for the Florida Food Pantry. Please go to www.floridapubliclibrary.org or call 845-651-7659 for a list of the items that are needed.
No registration required

Goshen Public Library & Historical Society

Volunteer Fair
October 28th from 12:00-4:00pm
All ages
Looking for that perfect volunteer opportunity?
Connect with non-profit and community organizations and find a way to make an impact that fits your skills and talents.
No registration required

Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library

The Great Give Back Food Drive & Fall Fest
October 1st-31st
All ages
The Great Give Back Food Drive for People to People will be all month long, please donate!
Fall Fest will be on Saturday, October 21, 10:00 – 3:00 at both library buildings. We’ll have Vendors, Food Trucks, Games, the Great Give Back, and more!!
No registration required

Highland Falls Library

Collection for Hudson Valley SPCA
October 1st-31st from 10:00am-7:00pm
All ages
We are collecting donations of Purina dog and cat food and other needed items for the Hudson Valley SPCA dogs and cats.
No registration required

Livingston Manor Library

Repair Cafe
October 21st from 1:00-3:00pm
Catskill Fly Fishing Center, 1031 Old Rte. 17, Livingston Manor, NY
All ages
Repair Café Livingston Manor is an initiative that promotes repair as an alternative to tossing things out. Community members can bring their broken items to fix them on the spot with the help of volunteer repairers. Repair volunteers specialize in electrical appliances, small furniture pieces and other wood items, toys, clocks, clothing and other fabric items. Please bring any parts you know are needed for your broken item. Some parts will be available on site. For more details about Repair Cafes, visit https://sustainhv.org/repair-cafe/.
No registration required

Moffat Library of Washingtonville

The Great Give Back to The Blooming Grove Humane Society
October 1st-31st
All ages
Throughout the month of October, we will be collecting donations for the Humane Society of Blooming Grove. If you would like, please donate the following supplies: wet/dry dog food (preferably Purina One Chicken & Rice dry), wet/dry cat food (preferably Friskies or Fancy Feast wet and Friskies dry), or towels and blankets. Donations can be dropped off at the library.
No registration required

Nanuet Public Library

Warm Up Drive
October 1st-21st
All ages
The Library will collect hats, scarves, gloves, and socks to be donated to local residents in need.
No registration required

Children’s Halloween Costume Swap
September 19th – October 31st
For baby, toddler, and chidren’s sized costumes
Leave and/or Take clean, gently used Children’s Halloween costumes in good, wearable condition. Have some dress-up fun, share with neighbors, and help the environment by reducing waste, and reusing those awesome costumes in any Baby, Toddler or Children’s sizes. The library does not assume responsibility for laundering. Please wash anything you leave or take.
No registration required

Newburgh Free Library

Warm Up With Us
November 4th from 1:00-3:00pm
All ages
The Newburgh Free Library and Team Newburgh will partner up once again to bring coats, hats, scarves, mittens, and socks to our community. We will be collecting items from October 2 – November 3. On Saturday, November 4 from 1 pm – 3 pm, we will be distributing items to community members who will be able to shop around and select what they need. A DJ and light refreshments will be available.
Event open to Newburgh Enlarged City School District Residents. No registration required.

Nyack Library

Great Give Back
October 21st from 10:00am-4:00pm
All ages
Join us for the Great Give Back held annually on October 21st. The Great Give Back is to provide a day of opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.

Help us provide the following to Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland:

Socks & Shoes
Underwear
Blankets
General Hygiene Products
Feminine Hygiene Items
Diapers, Wipes, and New Kids’ Clothes
School Supplies

Bring these goods to the Nyack Library’s bridge entrance 10am-4pm.

No registration required

Orangeburg Library

Food Drive for School District Pantry – SOCSD
October 9th-21st
All ages
Stock the Shelves for our local school district pantry!
No registration required

Pearl River Public Library

Pearl River Public Library Food Pantry Drive
October 20th – November 20th from 12:00-2:00pm
All ages
The library will accept donations of specific in-need items for the St Aeadan and St Stephen Food Pantries located in Pearl River. Please go to https://pearlriverlibrary.org/ or call 845-735-4084 x115 for a list of the items that are needed. No registration required
No registation required

RCLS

Town of Newburgh Animal & Control & Shelter
October 1st-23rd
All ages
Town of Newburgh Animal Control & Shelter Assistance
Contributions – gift cards, pet supplies

Roscoe Free Library

Great Giveback Day
October 21st from 10:00am-2:00pm

Collecting items for Good Shepherd Food Pantry, Roscoe NY
All ages
Anyone is welcome to donate. Prefer non perishable items, canned goods, paper products. Refreshments will be served.
No registration required

Items for Roscoe Nursing Home for men and women without family or few visitors
Health and beauty items for men and women that have no family or few visitors, crossword puzzles w/large pieces, tissues for the Roscoe Nursing Home. Items will be packaged for men or women.

Rose Memorial Library

Pets Alive
October 1st-31st
All ages
We are collecting donations for Pets Alive – a no-kill animal shelter in Middletown, NY. We are committed to finding permanent loving homes for animals. At any given time, the Pets Alive team is caring for roughly 250 homeless cats, dogs, and farm animals. Please donate food, toys or other pet supplies to the box in the Library through October.
No registration required

The Pine Bush Area Public Library

Bingo for Special Needs Individuals
12:30-1:30pm
All ages
Bingo!! Special Needs individuals play Bingo for prizes. All special needs groups and individuals with mentors are invited to come.
Registration is at the Library Community Room when you attend.

Suffern Free Library

Fall Food Drive
October 9th-27th
All ages
This October, Suffern Free Library will hold a Fall Food Drive to benefit local food pantries. Non-perishable, unexpired food donations can be placed in a receptacle inside the library’s main lobby from October 9th through October 27th. We thank everyone for working together to help those in need in our community.
No registration required

Tuxedo Park Library

4th Annual Promenade Placement Project
October 21st – November 18th from 10:00am-5:30pm
Grab and Go
All ages
This will be the fourth year our community will come together to color and decorate placemats for Thanksgiving dinner at the Promenade Senior Center. Placemats can be taken home to color or be completed in the library. We will then laminate them and distribute to the Promenade.
No registration required

Valley Cottage Library

Food Collection for the St. Paul’s Food Cupboard in Valley Cottage
October 1st-16th
All ages
Help the Food Cupboard create Thanksgiving food baskets for families by donating holiday food items like boxed stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned yams/sweet potatoes, and canned vegetables. Other donations needed include: cereal, oatmeal, pasta, boxed macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, dry beans, rice, canned meats, canned fruit, and cooking oil in plastic bottles. Donations of non-perishable, non-expired items can be placed in the collection box by the Circulation Desk.
No registration required

Children’s Clothing Swap
October 7th from 11:00am-3:00pm
Family program
Do you have drawers of baby clothes, but your baby is now in Kindergarten? Did your child have a growth spurt over the summer and now nothing fits? Come find something new-to-you at our Children’s Clothing Swap!

How it works:
Drop off your unwanted children’s clothing, in all sizes, from October 2-6. We’ll be collecting children’s clothes, shoes, coats, winter wear and Halloween costumes. Clothing must be in good condition, clean, no odors, rips, holes or stains.

Items will be sorted by size and category. Return on Saturday, October 7, 11am-3pm, to “shop” for free for what your family needs. We’ll have fun activities to entertain children while you shop.
You do not need to donate something to take something.
No registration required

Give a Kid a Book
October 1st – November 1st
Children’s program
The Children’s Room will collect new, unused children’s books between October 1 and November 1. Books will be given as gifts to children through local charities during the holidays.
No registration required

Wallkill Public Library

Ulster County Food Fight
September 1st – October 21st
All ages
The Ulster County Food Fight is a food collection contest amongst the Ulster County libraries. Please drop off non-perishable food items between September 1 and October 21, 2023 at the Wallkill Public Library located at 7 Bona Ventura Ave, Wallkill NY 12589. All items donated will be given to the Loaves and Fishes Pantry in Wallkill.
No registration required

We Recycle Battery Box Used Battery Collection
September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024
All ages
We have a We Recycle Battery Box collection open and ready to accept used batteries to be recycled. Located in our entryway, you will find the Big Green Box, along with plastic baggies. Please use a plastic baggie to place your batteries in before placing them in the battery recycle box. This program will run until the box is full or August 31, 2024.
No registration required

West Nyack Free Library

For the Love of Pets
October 1st-31st
All ages
West Nyack Library is collecting creature comforts for the animals at High Tor Animal Shelter. Please check our website for a wish list of items to bring to our library in October. Our donation bins will be at the Circulation desk during the month of October. The animals waiting for their forever home will be comforted by these thoughtful gifts.
No registration required

Western Sullivan Public Library

Comfort Cases
October 21st – November 4th from 10:00am-2:00pm
All three branches in Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Narrowsburg
All ages
Western Sullivan Public Library is excited to be working with The Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth to create “Comfort Cases”. Each comfort case that we put together will be given to children entering or in the foster care system. Comfort Cases are bags that contain essential items, with space for children to add personal possessions that help them find comfort and take with them as they traverse the system. Please consider donating any or all of the following items: Small duffel bag or backpack, pajamas (no nightgowns), blankets, diaper wipes, diaper cream, baby bibs, baby washcloths, toothbrush, shampoo (variety of hair types), conditioner, soap or body wash, deodorant (travel size), lotion (travel size), feminine products, coloring books & crayons, journals, pens & pencils.
There will be a bin for your donations along with a suggested list of items at each of our branches. Please bring your contributions to any of our Callicoon, Jeffersonville, or Narrowsburg locations, from October 21st – November 4th.
No registration required


Click here to view past GGB events from Ramapo Catskill Library System