Finkelstein Memorial Library’s Youth Services Department is partnering with The Great Giveback to host a community Toy Drive and Swap this October.

The library is accepting donations of gently used and outgrown toys through October 11. Families will then have the opportunity to browse and “shop” for toys during the swap on Saturday, October 18, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The event offers families a chance to give toys a second life while helping children in the community find something new to enjoy.

The library is encouraging residents and community organizations to help spread the word.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR) is inviting the community to “Help Cultivate Hope” through its Fall Harvest Fundraiser, running September 15 through October 30.

Now in its second year, the fundraiser supports CCCSR’s food pantry and the Garden of Love, a community vegetable garden established in 2010 with support from Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener program. The garden is maintained through a partnership with St. Ann’s Parish and Good Samaritan Hospital and produces more than 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables each year for local residents.

Every dollar donated provides approximately four meals, thanks to CCCSR’s collective purchasing power in the Hudson Valley. The organization hopes to raise $5,000, with all funds going directly toward providing food for local families and individuals in need.

Supporters can symbolically “purchase” vegetables from the garden, with options ranging from $20 for a bell pepper to $100 for a pumpkin patch. Participants can also create their own fundraising page or form a team to encourage friends, family and colleagues to join the campaign.

“The Garden of Love is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together to care for its neighbors,” said Stephen Papas, executive director of CCCSR. “Every donation, no matter the size, helps us provide nutritious food to local families who may be struggling to make ends meet.”