MID-HUDSON – Congressman John Hall and Orange County Executive Edward Diana were among the public officials who took time out of their business schedules this week to delivery turkeys to those who might otherwise go without on Thanksgiving.

Hall handles turkey in Brewster

Diana, third from left, helpers, prepare over 70 meals

Hall worked with the Putnam Community Action Program in Brewster Tuesday distributing turkey, pie, produce and non-perishable items to families.

He said the economy has taken its toll on the hungry. “That’s what Judy Callahan, the director of the Putnam Community Action Program said is that they have nearly twice as many people that they are feeding this Thanksgiving as last year, but the good news is she said the donations are also up, which is not what I was hearing earlier this year,” he said. The uptick in donations might because of the holidays people “get in the spirit of giving and helping others and that’s a good thing.”

Meanwhile, Diana and Orange County Veterans Affairs Director Anthony Zippo joined members of the Orange County Veterans Coalition to pack and deliver Thanksgiving food packages to over 70 veterans and their families in recent days.