The Christmas season brought special gifts of cheer, and treasured traditions of community spirit, to Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh.

For decades, The Community Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties has made and donated table arrangements of fresh greens for recipients. This year, member Kathleen Stradar delivered them to Meals on Wheels President Carole McDermott.

The Kiwanis Club renewed its own holiday tradition for Meals on Wheels with the donation of fruit baskets. Kiwanian Frank Gerbes produced a letter from MOW’s founder, Frederica Warner, sent in 1983, thanking the club for their contribution.

Flannery Animal Hospital in New Windsor donated goody bags for meal recipients’ pets -- blue for dogs, white for cats. The project was spearheaded by Robin Bello, executive director, in memory of her late beloved dog, Zoey. McDermott, delivery volunteer Ray Flotard, Bello, and kitchen volunteer Emily Ganci were on hand to receive the donations.

Following another December tradition, volunteers assembled and delivered “Fight Hunger Bags” filled with shelf-stable food for meal participants to keep on hand for unforeseen emergencies.

Meals on Wheels prepares hot noontime meals for residents of Newburgh and New Windsor who are homebound and unable to cook for themselves. 

For more information, phone 845-562-3490 on weekday mornings or visit mealsonwheelsnewburgh.org.