To the Editor:

The donation of 50 blankets to the Albany County Sheriff’s 28th annual Hilltown Christmas Program from the local chapter of Project Linus, a national organization that provides handmade blankets to children in need, serves as a reminder that the holidays are rapidly approaching.

Over the past 27 years, the Hilltown Christmas Program has provided toys, food, clothing, and a little holiday spirit for children and families in need from the rural areas of Albany County. Donated and purchased items are distributed at the annual Christmas party to be held this year at the Albany County Sheriff’s Office station in Clarksville on Sunday, Dec. 18.

It is a fun time for the entire family and, while the children are engaged in other holiday activities, parents are provided the opportunity to select donated toys or books for their children as well as needed winter clothes, boots, and mittens — and a handmade blanket. This year’s program will provide services to 100 families with 175 children.

The success of the Hilltown Christmas Program is a direct result of the generosity and support of local businesses and community members and the hard work of those who organize this event — work that will begin again as soon as this year’s event is in the history books. Preparations for each year’s event is a year-long process.

Kathaleen Taylor, sheriff’s office patrol clerk and coordinator for the program, will begin shopping for winter clothes, coats, boots, and mittens as soon as the year-end clearance sales begin, thereby stretching donated dollars to maximize the number of items available for next year’s participants.

Toy drives are scheduled for Nov. 26 at Hannaford in Voorheesville, Dec. 3 at Delaware Plaza in Delmar, and Dec. 10 at the Price Chopper in Slingerlands. All collection drives will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is always fun to purchase toys for the little ones, but please remember how important the holiday is to older children as well.

If you would like to provide financial assistance to the program, please attend one of the toy drives and contribute to the collection buckets or mail a check payable to Hilltown Christmas Program to: Albany County Sheriff’s Office, 58 Verda Avenue – Post Office Box A, Clarksville, NY 12041.

All donation should be received by Dec. 22. For additional information, contact Kathaleen Taylor at (518) 655-7811.

Sharon Breisch

Guilderland