Sen. Skoufis, Staff Distribute Toys and PPE

NEWBURGH – Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) distributed hundreds of new toys, masks, and sanitizer to Head Start of Eastern Orange County, a child development program that provides services ranging from education, health resources, individualized learning plans, and home-based services.

Head Start is a federal program that supports school preparation of children from low-income families by focusing on cognitive, social, and emotional development. The Orange County location is based in Newburgh and children are set to return in-person on January 19. Skoufis and his staff coordinated with Head Start to ensure the materials were received prior to the children’s arrival. “Everyone at Head Start has been working tirelessly over the past many months to ensure their programs remain available to the children and families in Orange County,” said Senator Skoufis. “From getting internet hotspots to families for at-home learning, to creating a bilingual, home-school support group for parents, the dedicated educators and staff at Head Start did everything possible to ensure that children’s’ development wasn’t hindered by the pandemic. I was delighted to be able to bring toys, sanitizer, and masks – a small token of my appreciation – for the important services they continue to provide. My additional thanks to everyone in the community who made it possible for over 100 children to be greeted with a toy upon their return.”

“On behalf of the children, families, and staff at Head Start, we deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness of the Senator,” said Head Start Director Ann Pagliaro. “Our program is dedicated to providing children and families with quality development programs and support services. Our thanks to all who made it possible for over 100 children to be greeted with a toy, as well as Senator Skoufis for his continued support of our mission.”

That same day, Skoufis and his team also distributed hundreds of masks and several gallons of sanitizer to different churches throughout the Senate district.

During the December holiday weekend, Skoufis distributed hundreds of holiday toys, masks and sanitizers to the community at his Newburgh office. In addition to this, 50 toys were donated to Fearless! for their shelter, 250 were donated to United Way of Rockland, and 250 were donated to the Village of Haverstraw Department of Youth and Family Services. Senator Skoufis has previously hosted over a dozen PPE distributions throughout the district since the start of COVID-19 and plans to continue this effort as long as the pandemic persists.