Photo Gallery: Good Will Is in the Air

Photo Gallery: Good Will Is in the Air
Holly Kellum
12/30/2015
Updated:
12/30/2015

Sometimes it takes the holidays to notice the collective good will and generosity that surrounds us, which is part of the magic of the holiday season. Not only are people busy preparing for their own holidays, but many go out of their way to make sure this time of year is a little more special for others—a true holiday gift. 

An article of clothing with a note explaining what the parcels that decorate several Goshen "giving trees" are for on Dec. 22, 2015 near the Short Line bus stop on W. Main Street.(Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
An article of clothing with a note explaining what the parcels that decorate several Goshen "giving trees" are for on Dec. 22, 2015 near the Short Line bus stop on W. Main Street.(Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

The Gung Ho 909 Detachment of the Pike County Marine Corp League collects toys, letters to Santa, and monetary donations inside a Kmart in Matamoras on Dec. 12, 2015. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
The Gung Ho 909 Detachment of the Pike County Marine Corp League collects toys, letters to Santa, and monetary donations inside a Kmart in Matamoras on Dec. 12, 2015. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

(L-R) Diane Reynolds, Edward Reynolds, Sandy Molander, Susan Reddy, Joan Orr, Cindy Innella, Colin Innella (front), and Ryan Innella at a box packing party for Operation Christmas Child, on Nov. 15, 2015 at the First Assembly of God Church in Port Jervis. Operation Christmas Child is a project by Samaritans Purse to send Christmas boxes to children all over the world. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
(L-R) Diane Reynolds, Edward Reynolds, Sandy Molander, Susan Reddy, Joan Orr, Cindy Innella, Colin Innella (front), and Ryan Innella at a box packing party for Operation Christmas Child, on Nov. 15, 2015 at the First Assembly of God Church in Port Jervis. Operation Christmas Child is a project by Samaritans Purse to send Christmas boxes to children all over the world. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

An Operation Christmas Child box at the First Assembly of God Church in Port Jervis on Nov. 15, 2015. About 45 boxes were done at this packing party to be sent all over the world. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
An Operation Christmas Child box at the First Assembly of God Church in Port Jervis on Nov. 15, 2015. About 45 boxes were done at this packing party to be sent all over the world. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Empowering Port Jervis' donated coat rack for those in need during the cold months on Nov. 15, 2015 at Empowering Port Jervis. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Empowering Port Jervis' donated coat rack for those in need during the cold months on Nov. 15, 2015 at Empowering Port Jervis. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Packages of food await pickup at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Middletown on Nov. 23, 2015. Mission director Millie Rivera-Velez said she gets volunteers from all over the Middletown area as well as some who stay in the church's warming station at night and stay to help out in the day. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Packages of food await pickup at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Middletown on Nov. 23, 2015. Mission director Millie Rivera-Velez said she gets volunteers from all over the Middletown area as well as some who stay in the church's warming station at night and stay to help out in the day. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Volunteers at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Middletown pack an extra three meals per person compared to their regular baskets for the winter months when kids are out of school. On Nov. 23, 2015 they were preparing food for about 200 clients. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Volunteers at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Middletown pack an extra three meals per person compared to their regular baskets for the winter months when kids are out of school. On Nov. 23, 2015 they were preparing food for about 200 clients. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Volunteers prepare holiday food boxes at the Otisville Presbyterian Church on Nov. 20, 2015. The initial amount was 54 boxes, but at the last minute a request for another 17 came in and the volunteers found enough food to fill them all. The food came from local boy and girl scout troops, employees at the Otisville Federal Correctional Facility, Otisville VFW Post 5497, the Otisville Lions, the Minisink Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and the church's own food pantry. They gave out 71 boxes in all, each with a mix of canned and boxed goods, fresh vegetables, juice, and a whole turkey. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Volunteers prepare holiday food boxes at the Otisville Presbyterian Church on Nov. 20, 2015. The initial amount was 54 boxes, but at the last minute a request for another 17 came in and the volunteers found enough food to fill them all. The food came from local boy and girl scout troops, employees at the Otisville Federal Correctional Facility, Otisville VFW Post 5497, the Otisville Lions, the Minisink Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and the church's own food pantry. They gave out 71 boxes in all, each with a mix of canned and boxed goods, fresh vegetables, juice, and a whole turkey. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

A Salvation Army ringer is joined by the Broome Street Band from Port Jervis outside a Kmart in Matamoras on Dec. 12, 2015. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
A Salvation Army ringer is joined by the Broome Street Band from Port Jervis outside a Kmart in Matamoras on Dec. 12, 2015. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Gayla Garren, missions chairperson for the Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church stands next to almost 200 coats the church collected in a few weeks as an addition to their fall clothing drive. A few church members got the idea after seeing children shivering waiting for the bus in the morning. On Dec. 12, 2015 they gave away 73 coats and Garren said they not only plan to keep giving them away throughout the winter, but will do an even bigger one next year. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Gayla Garren, missions chairperson for the Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church stands next to almost 200 coats the church collected in a few weeks as an addition to their fall clothing drive. A few church members got the idea after seeing children shivering waiting for the bus in the morning. On Dec. 12, 2015 they gave away 73 coats and Garren said they not only plan to keep giving them away throughout the winter, but will do an even bigger one next year. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

 

Kaitlin Harris, 7, stands next to a mitten tree on Dec. 12, 2015, part of a bi-annual clothing drive at the Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)
Kaitlin Harris, 7, stands next to a mitten tree on Dec. 12, 2015, part of a bi-annual clothing drive at the Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)