This marks the 89th Toy for Joy campaign
11/28/11 Springfield- --Maria Rivera, of Springfield ,left gets helps with her registration form for the 89th annual Toy For Joy campaign from volunteer Cesia Lopez, right, a student ambassador from STCC, as Miguel Torres of Springfield , top left gets help from volunteer Kristin Bregoli, at the Greater Springfield Salvation Army Citadel at 170 Pearl Street Monday. 
SPRINGFIELD – Scores of parents and guardians, at the rate of about 200 per hour, flocked to the Greater Springfield Salvation Army Citadel on Pearl Street Monday as registration for Toy for Joy got underway.
This marks the 89th annual Toy for Joy campaign; jointly sponsored by the Salvation Army and The Republican, the campaign is working to raise $150,000 by Christmas eve to bring toys and gifts to children in need this holiday season.
Monday’s registrants included Miguel Torres and Maria Rivera, of Springfield, who have eight children, ranging in age from 7 to 14.
The couple said the holidays wouldn’t be the same without Toy for Joy which last year brought smiles to nearly 20,000 children from Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
“I appreciate it a lot,” said Torres. “It helps us out big-time, it helps out a lot of people.”
“We have a full house,” Maj. Thomas D. Perks, co-commander of the Greater Springfield Citadel, said. “We are moving folks right through.”
Registration for Toy for Joy also got underway Monday at the Holyoke Citadel and continued at the Westfield Salvation Army service center.
Registrations will also be taken later this week at service centers in Northampton, Greenfield and Holyoke. Dates and times vary by unit.
Hasbro, Inc. is joining Toy for Joy as a partner, providing some of the toys which will be distributed. Hasbro has a long history of helping families in Western Massachusetts during the holidays and this year is no different.
By teaming with the Toy for Joy campaign, Hasbro, The Republican and the Salvation Army bring over 100 combined years of experience managing programs that help families in need give their children a toy or game to unwrap on their holiday. Hasbro employees will also be among the volunteers who aid the Salvation Army with registration of families and with distribution of the toys and gifts.
The most recent contributions tally $285, bringing the Toy for Joy total raised so far, to $3,360. That leaves $146,660 to be raised.
For more information, call 733-1518. To make a contribution to the Toy for Joy fund, write: Toy for Joy, P.O. Box 3007, Springfield 01102. Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Dec. 23.
Here’s a list of the latest contributors:
Merry Christmas Janice from Peggy, $15
Merry Christmas Auntie from Peggy, $15
Happy Holidays from the Mason family, $50
In memory of Ida and Albert Godin and Stanley Durej, $25
In loving memory of Ellen C. Dandurand, husband and daughters, $10
Merry Christmas Mike, Katie, Alyssa, Russell Wilb, $20
Mr. and Mrs. Farrell, $100
Remembering the deceased members of the Frank and Caterina Cirillo family, $25
In memory of our parents Ed and Bev Moriarty, $25
RECEIVED, $285
TOTAL TO DATE, $3,360
STILL NEEDED, $146,640