LOCH SHELDRAKE – New Hope Community has devoted the month of December to giving back to members of the community in need, helping to ensure the spirit of the holiday season reaches families throughout Sullivan County. The nonprofit, which provides person-centered support and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), coordinated a series of festive events to spread holiday cheer and happiness in the form of meaningful resources, including hot meals, gifts, and monetary donations.

CEO Karen Russell said, “We are so proud to partner with local businesses and organizations again this year to give back to our community in such important ways. This investment of time and resources is one we gladly make in order to help our neighbors feel supported during the holiday season.”

After forming a new partnership in 2024, New Hope Community teamed up with the Sullivan County Child Advocacy Center in Liberty, NY to facilitate this year’s Adopt a Child campaign. Over the course of the campaign, New Hope staff fulfilled the wish lists of 70 children ranging in age from newborn to 17 years old. Gifts, including toys, winter clothes, creativity supplies, and more, were then wrapped with care and delivered by enthusiastic New Hope staff to the Child Advocacy Center.

Following a one-day postponement due to the season’s first snowfall, New Hope Community held its 8th Annual Community Outreach Dinner on Wednesday, December 3rd, bringing together volunteers, staff, and local partners in a heartfelt celebration of generosity, connection, and community. Operating again as a campus-wide drive-thru, the event provided 560 complete meals to community members in need and featured festive displays for families to enjoy, including Santa and his elves, a Letters to Santa mailbox and a magical glimpse at Santa’s reindeer.

Pasta dinners and fixings were made possible thanks to generous donations from restaurants and grocers in our region, including Chili’s, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sam’s Club, Hannaford, Adams Fairacre Farms, and ShopRite. Clementines from Sam’s Club and gift cards from ShopRite were purchased through the generosity of New Hope Community. One mother, Rose, mentioned, “This event is something we look forward to every year. Not only saving money around the holidays, but just seeing the holiday spirit here at New Hope. It means a lot to us.” “It’s very beautiful that the community is so giving. I’m very grateful for this dinner,” said Brittany, another local Sullivan County resident.

The seasonal giving continued throughout the month of December with New Hope Community providing a handful of monetary donations to local organizations doing meaningful work throughout the region. Given annually, these donations represent New Hope Community’s admiration for these organizations and their commitment to supporting the Sullivan County community. This year, checks were presented to the Fallsburg PBA, Cornell Cooperative Extension – Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, SUNY Sullivan Foundation – Student Food Pantry, Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, and the Sullivan County SPCA.