Upper Hudson Library System
Public libraries of Albany County and Rensselaer County

Below are libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System that will be participating in The Great Give Back 2022! 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.
The Great Give Back: Cleaning Supply Donations
October 3-21
Give back to your community by donating cleaning supplies at the library! Supplies will be donated to the Bethlehem Food Pantry.
The food pantry is looking for new, unopened household cleaning supplies, such as Windex, bleach, Comet, and scrub pads, as well as items such as toothpaste, tooth brushes, paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues.
Donated items can be placed in a donation bin in the library hallway. Donations will be taken from October 3 to October 21.
Great Give Back – Card Making
October 11
2:30-4:00 pm
For all ages
Stop by the Community Room and create handmade cards with kind and inspiring messages. These cards will be given to people at local assisted living facilities as part of the Great Give Back.
Registration is not required.
Fall Fest – OpSnip Cat Rescue Meet n Greet / Fundraiser
September 24
12:00-4:00 pm
For all ages
OpSnip Cat Rescue Meet n Greet / Fundraiser
Drop in event! Visit Fall Fest and stop by OpSnip’s booth to support their animal rescue
OpSnip is looking for donations of:
-Purina Fancy Feast Grain Free Kitten Food
-Purina Tidy Cats Non-Clumping Cat Litter
-Purina Friskies Gravy Wet Cat Food – Meaty Bits
-Purina Friskies Tasty Treasures Adult Wet Cat Food
-Fortiflora Purina Veterinary Diets Feline Nutritional Supplement
-Purina Kitten Chow Dry Kitten Food
organization.
Coats for the Community
October 1-14
Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza
Please donate new and gently used coats, boots, hats, gloves, and snow pants (adult and children’s sizes) between October 1-14, at our satellite library located in the Cohoes Senior Center.
Collected items will be distributed locally in Cohoes, Green Island, Waterford, and Watervliet. Coats for the Community is brought to you by The Albany Association of Ladies of Charity at the Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza on Friday, October 21 (1:30 – 6 pm) and Saturday (9 am – 12 noon).
Pet Food Drive
October 1-21
This year we are again hosting a Pet Food Drive from October 1 – 21 to benefit two very worthwhile, local organizations: The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Whiskers Animal Benevolent League. We are collecting canned cat food and dry dog food or treats that are unopened, not expired, and not prescription. Also welcome: kitty litter and pet-sized blankets. Whiskers also requested small white paper plats and paper towels. Drop off donated items into the marked bins in our lobby from October 1-21.
Pet Food Drive For HCRC
October 15 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Rensselaerville Library has teamed up with multiple businesses and organizations within our library community to collect pet food for the Hilltowns Community Resource Center. With the increasing cost of food and gasoline, families are struggling to make ends meet. At the HCRC Food Pantry, pets are included as part of the family. Unfortunately, with inflation and supply shortages, donations are way down. The Regional Foodbank — which supplies 75% of the Food Pantry resources — had to make the hard decision to discontinue pet food due to the high demand for human food at this time.
There are many families that will feed their pets before themselves. Pets bring so much to our lives and any help would mean so much to so many. Drop off locations include the Library, Rensselaerville VFD Firehouse, the Town Transfer Station, Kuhar Family Farm Cafe and the Medusa and Preston Hollow post offices. No registration required.
The Great Give Back – Collection for Sleep in Heavenly Peace
September 15 – October 15
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a local volunteer organization that builds beds for kids who are sleeping on the floor. In the last four years, they’ve delivered close to 800 beds in our region. From September 15 – October 15, we’ll be collecting new (in original packaging) twin sheet sets, comforters, and pillows. SHP serves ages 3-17, so both children’s-themed and teen/neutral-themed sheets are needed. In addition, we’ll be collecting funds to build beds. For more ways to help (like building and delivery), visit www.shpbeds.org.
Open to the public
Click here to view GGB 2021 events from Upper Hudson Library System.