Tots for Toys Despite Pandemic (Aired on December 13, 2020)

Every holiday season one of the great charities that everyone loves to help is Toys for Tots. In 2020, the year of the pandemic, the Marines are still coming to help children who might otherwise go without holiday presents. Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane to provide toys for children in need—distributing 5,000 toys in that first year.  Since then, communities around the nation have provided bins for collecting toys and volunteers to provide cash for more and to help the local Marine Corps Reserve deliver them. In 2020 some of the usual ways of getting the word out to donors have been impacted by Covid restrictions, but with radio, social media, and advertising, the program will operate as usual. The details for this year are provided in this radio program by Tammy Haight (Ulster County Coordinator), Melissa Curtis (former coordinator), and PAMAL radio host Randy Turner (who is also part of the RadioRotary team)m as well as by the RadioRotary cohosts Jonah Triebwasser and Sarah O’Connell-Claitor.

Learn more:
Hudson Valley Toys for Tots: https://hudson-valley.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=100&nPreviewInd=200&nRedirectInd=3
Toys for Tots on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToysForTotsHudsonValley/
Marine Reserve Corps at Stewart Air Base: https://www.marforres.marines.mil/Major-Subordinate-Commands/4th-Marine-Aircraft-Wing/Marine-Aircraft-Group-49/ssstewart/
WBPM (92.9): https://www.929wbpm.com/
National Toys for Tots campaign: https://www.toysfortots.org/

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December 21, 2020 · Posted in Children, Hudson Valley, Service Organizations  

A Zero Waste Sustainability Center (Aired on December 6, 2020)

Amelia Legare saw a red barn at Greig Farm in Red Hook and many possibilities for improving the environment. As a gardening instructor for an elementary school, she started with talking to farm-owner Norman Greig about starting a native-plant garden at the farm but soon a host of ideas for using local ingredients in household items, selling them in bulk to reduce use of plastic,
forming a community compost CGA, providing classes on environmental issues (and yoga), and more were not only conceived by implemented. Since the goal was sustainability with zero waste, the barn was converted into a bulk-goods emporium for household products and named “The O Zone,” for a place with zero negative impact on the environment. RadioRotary is delighted to bring new of Lagare’s vision and enterprise to a greater audience. Listen to the program to learn about the many ways The O Zone can improve both the environment and your life.

Learn more:
The O Zone: https://theozonehv.com/
Greig Farm: https://www.greigfarm.com/
Environmental Sustainability: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-sustainability-3157876
Native Plant Gardening: https://www.wildflower.org/learn/guide-native-plant-gardening
Community Composting: https://ilsr.org/composting/what-is-community-composting/

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December 21, 2020 · Posted in Environment, Quality of Life  

Protecting Homes with Smoke Alarms (Aired on November 29, 2020)

Poughkeepsie South Rotarian Christina Boryk, Executive Director of Dutchess Rebuilding Together, and Kelly Formoso, Executive Director of Hudson Valley Red Cross, visit RadioRotary through Zoom for this fascinating discussion of home safety measures, especially smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Rebuilding Together is in the business of improving homes, both with major renovations (such as a new roof) and general in-home safety measures. Red Cross, which aids people after disasters, in Dutchess County most often helps families recover from house fires. So it made sense in 2016 when the idea of working together was broached that the two organizations would combine to provide free smoke alarms to homeowners and renters. Since then they have
installed over a thousand smoke alarms and saved the lives of at least 7 persons. Listen to the details of how this remarkable team began and continues to work together and how you can make your home protected from fire and carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Learn more:
Rebuilding Together (Dutchess County): http://www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org/
Red Cross (Hudson Valley): https://www.redcross.org/local/new-york/eastern-new-york/about-us/locations/mid-hudson-valley.html
Fire Safety: https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/emergency-preparedness/fire
Poughkeepsie South Rotary Club: https://www.rotarydistrict7210.org/clubInfo/poughkeepsie-south

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December 9, 2020 · Posted in Aging, Housing Assistance, Service Organizations