Holley library hosting ‘Cards for Vets’ today

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Sandy Shaw, recently retired as director of the Community Free Library, and retired Holley Mayor John Kenney write messages in Christmas cards to be given to veterans.

Shaw has organized the annual “Cards for Vets” effort the past five years. She is hoping 500 cards can be written for veterans this holiday season.

Community Free Library is open until 8 p.m. today and welcomes people to come in and write messages in cards.

The cards will be delivered to the NYS Veterans Home in Batavia and the VA Medical Center in Batavia, as well as other local veterans.

Shaw said the cards have all been donated by community members.

Amelia Buchanan of Albion, right, signs cards in the library for veterans. She is joined by her daughters Aubrey and Alexie, and their friend Savannah Gross, left, of Brockport.

“We really wanted to do it,” Buchanan said about writing messages in the cards for veterans. “We hope they will appreciate it and feel joy.”

The library expects to have the cards available for several days for people to stop in and write messages.

Amanda Anderson, the new library director, said she wants to keep the “Cards for Vets” for many years to come. She said Orleans County has a high percentage of people who are veterans.