HELPING OUT

Dancing in the Woods raised nearly $550,000 for the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital. In its 40th year, the region’s premier holiday gala drew more than 600 people. It was held Dec. 2 at the Riverview Innovation Center in Menands.

• The Capital District Area Labor Federation concluded a food drive with a delivery to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Friday. The donations were delivered in a Teamsters Local 294 tractor-trailer. Area school districts and more than 30 trade and labor unions contributed to the food drive, benefiting pantries across the Food Bank’s 23-county area.

• The Albany County Legislature delivered hundreds of gifts to families in need through the county’s Adopt-A-Family program. The legislature’s Democratic majority partnered with the county Department of Children, Youth and Families to provide 10 families with the items on their wish list.

• KeyBank Foundation is investing $400,000 to help Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region expand its efforts to provide more service to community members facing food insecurity and acute crises. Funds will support Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region’s Health & Wellness Division,which serves thousands of residents with unmet needs.

• On Dec. 9, members of the Guilderland Teachers’ Association and members of NYSUT handed out 10,000 new, high-quality books for free at Farnsworth Middle School to scores of students, families and educators for their home libraries and classrooms.

• Guan Ho Ha Fish & Game Club in Scotia held its 5th Annual Kids & Clays Open in September and raised $114,404 to support critically ill children and their families via Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region and the Kids & Clays Foundation.

• SERVPRO of Bennington and Rutland

Counties delivered a $9,000 donation to the Dartmouth Health Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center last month, the culmination of a threeyear, $25,000 commitment.

• Saratoga Casino Hotel celebrated Giving Tuesday by donating $120,000 to 12 Capital Region nonprofits during its Make A Difference holiday luncheon in Vapor last month.

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, received the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant for $306,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

• As a continuation of the partnership established at the recent grand-reopening celebration of its restaurant at Duanesburg Road in Rotterdam, Dunkin’ hosted a new clothing drive for Things of My Very Own . Dunkin’ collected several bags of new clothing and bedding and Schalmont High School student volunteers collected clothing on Saturday.