The Republican Newspaper and the Salvation Army hope to raise $150,000 by noon today.
December 21, 2011 - Wilbraham - Minnechaug Regional High School students of teachers Teal Lowe, Julie Zanetti and Jennifer Jenovevo raised $3397.06 for the Toy for Joy campaign.
WILBRAHAM – High school students here and in Agawam clearly make the grade when it comes helping children in need this holiday season.
Students from Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham donated $3,397 to the Toy for Joy campaign. That doubles the gift that students, their families and school staff raised last season, said Heid Drawec, dean of students.
Drawec said students in more than 20 classes contributed their spare change. Some of the money came from a dress-down day, and families and individuals donated as well.
“This year there were so many families that stepped up,” Drawec said. “The community effort just came together.”
The National Honor Society students at Agawam High School, meanwhile, raised $1,669 during a week-long drive, said Nikoli Benkert, co-advisor to the National Honor Society at the school said.
Current donations tally to $112,594.56. leaving $37,405.44 to be raised.
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 Friday to bring toys and gifts to children in need this holiday season.
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. Hasbro employees were also among the volunteers who aided the Salvation Army with registration of families and distribution of the toys and gifts.
For more information, call (413) 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 today.
Here’s a list of the latest contributors:
A blessed Christmas to family and friends from Teresa and James Simonds, $25
In loving memory of our grandparents, love Lisa and Mary, $20
In memory of our parents Coutus and Landrys, $10
In memory of Bobby Skorka, Laurie and Rob, love Doreen, $15
Make a child smile from Pauline, $20
In loving memory of my mother Evelyn Beyette, $10
For Tim Melton from Esther, Dave and Mom, $100
Steven, $35
In loving memory of my Dad, Patrick, a loved grandfather, $10
In memory of Zoey, $25
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Connery, $25
In memory of Ma and Dad, we miss you, D and J, $20
In loving memory of Ukie, Marge and Jeff from the Rainauds, $25
Merry Christmas to my DSP team at MassMutual from Lynn, $150
In memory of Paul Jr and Paul Sr and the Scibelli family, $20
Merry Christmas from Pat and Dave, $100
In gratitude for a wonderful family and the best friends, $100
Bernette, $20
We hope to brighten some children’s lives, $50
In loving memory of Lucielle Hyland and Eilleen McCarthy, $25
In memory of Rita Marcus, $20
In memory of my wife Betty and son Mike, $25
In honor of our grandson Connor, Merry Christmas, love Grandma and Grandpa, $50
Merry Christmas from Tom and Lynne King, $200
Andy, $500
For Boppy’s angels, $25
In memory of Sadie, $25
Blessings for the children, $25
Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho, $20
Merry Christmas, love Jerad, Logn, Delaney and Salle, $50
Anonymous, $20
For the children, $10
In loving memory of our parents from Pat and Gary Kopy, $25
Merry Christmas, $20
In memory of Steven Graci, $20
Jesus is the reason for the season, $25
The Powers family, $15
Merry Christmas, Betsy, Bill, Brett and Charlie, $100
In memory of past members of Highland Grange #48 of Huntington, $25
In loving memory of Raymond Besko from wife Mary, $25
Thomas and Lois, $50
Merry Christmas from the “kindness kids”, $100
Merry Christmas from Sandra, $25
In honor of John J. Sorrentino, Merry Christmas, $200
For family and friends gone too soon but not forgotten, $50
Gerald, $25
In remembrance of my brother Jerry, $20
In memory of my daughter Karen McCann, $20
Jacqueline, $25
In memory of my wife Rosemarie, $100
In loving memory of Sev Albano and Barbara Furlani from Gloria, $20
In loving memory of my dear mother from John, $20
In memory of Roger and Jeanne Johnson, Gerald and Muriel Laux and Kevin Patrick Brown, $25
For Horace “Bill” Hinman, “The Chief”, $20
For Scott LeDoux, Jerry Quarry, Ron Lyle and Joe Frazier, $10
God bless the children, VI and SF, $5
In memory of Spanky, Carley and Cal, God bless, $20
In memory of Grampy from Ciena and John John, $25
Merry Christmas from the Pereira family, $100
In memory of Amedco, Theresa and Lorraine, $20
Merry Christmas to Steve and Louise Delude from MM/IOPS, $70
Happy Holidays from Pat, Jena, Albert and Leo Truoiolo, $25
In memory of Lee and Jo Pilon, Merry Christmas, $20
Larry and Roberta, $50
Judy, $50
In loving memory of Noni Hinkley and cousin Michelle, love Peg and Krysten, $25
In loving memory of our Poppa “Kip” Methot from Krysten, Colin, Tyler, Kara, Conner and Elise, $25
In memory of O’Connor, Connelly and Sullivan families, $50
In memory of CJB love Auntess, $25
For all those good little girls and boys, $25
In memory of Genevieve and Henry Ciak, $50
Happy Holidays from Lori, $25
In memory of Lionel and Rita Gaudette from Ron and Nan, $100
Merry Christmas, love Mimi, $250
In memory of Barbara Chapman from Phil, Lin, CJ and Bri, $25
In memory of Don and Pat Bushey from Linda, Phil, CJ and Bri, $25
In memory of all veterans, $10
The Webers, $100
Merry Christmas to all from Jack, custodian at Chapin St. School, $50
In memory of Mom and Dad, $10
In memory of Eva Sullivan, $25
Tracy and Eric, $100
I want every child to have a toy on Christmas from Emma, $10
In loving memory of Gladys, Kent and Bernie, $25
A very Merry Christmas to all from Ryan, Lauryn and Rachel, $25
Merry Christmas from Ron, $50
God bless Steven, $25
Francis and Danny Martin, $20
In memory of deceased loved ones, $25
Merry Christmas to the kids from the Erickson family, $10
In memory of Juliette McDonald and Edna Stefanik, $35
Merry Christmas from Dean and Linda, $25
Love Uncle John and Grandpa Gerweck, Merry Christmas, $25
In memory of Stanley, Helen, Victor and Richard, $25
In memory of Fluffy Ruffles, $20
In memory of my husband, grandson and parents from Anne Marie, $10
For all those who died serving their country, $100
In loving memory of Dave Bridie and Kevin Russell and, Paul O’Brien, $100
In memory of Charlie and Mary Ghedi, love Neal, Sue and boys, $25
In honor of Ruth Gould, love Sue, $25
In memory of Helga, $50
In loving memory of our parents Ray and Jean Babineau from Terry and Dan Willett, $50
In memory of Danny and Maurice from the Tatro family, $15
In memory of deceased loved ones from Richard and Ellen, $25
Maureen, $20
Thank you God for your blessings and new announcement, $50
Happy 90th Birthday Eileen from Danny and Janine, $50
In memory of our wonderful parents from Terry and Judy Spencer, $25
In memory of our parents Armand and Yvonne LaRochelle, $50
In memory of Mom and Dad Babcock, love Dolly and George, $10
Anonymous, $10
Memory of all my loved ones in heaven and loving husband Dr. William Hennessey, $50
In memory of Mom and Dad Rowe, love Dolly and George, $10
Merry Christmas from James and Susan, $50
Merry Christmas from Cindy, $40
In loving memory of three sisters, Minnie, Orpha and Tillie, $100
In loving memory of F. Griffin Keougll from the Clemons family, $25
Merry Christmas from Julie and Spunky, $20
Thank you St. Anthony, $25
In memory of my godmother Aunt Kelly, love Collin, $25
Claudia, Tony, Danielle and Emma, $25
In memory of Roger, Myrtle, Ward and Jeff Sargent, $20
In loving memory of Bob and Michael Meehan, $20
Nancy, $50
In thanks for all our blessings from Al and Chris, $25
In memory of mother Margaret P. Conroy, $25
Merry Christmas, remembering all of our families from Michael and Darlene, $25
In memory of Jake, $25
In memory of Grampa Bull and Papa B, $25
In loving memory of Donald Moodie, $100
Anonymous, $100
Merry Christmas from our grandchildren, Mya, Alexa, Kayla and Riley, $100
In memory of dear friend Louise Pomeroy, love Fran, $10
In memory of dear friend Winnie Kerwin, love Fran, $10
In loving memory of Tony from Fran with love, $25
In memory of Mom and Pa from Frank with love, $25
In loving memory of my mother Patricia Jackson, $25
In loving memory of Carl Gustafson, $50
In memory of Donald A. Stuart on our fourth Christmas without you from your loving family Pauline, Sharon, Susan and Robbie, $25
In memory of Heidi Weit and Robert Person who loved Christmas from Grandma Stuart, $25
Anonymous, $30
In memory of David A. Downer from Nancy and Madeline, $15
Memory of Kip Methot and Jack Benoit, $20
Local 211 members, $100
Remembering 54 Christmases together, $50
For Nana, $5
In memory of Dad and my brother Tony from Judy, $25
In memory of Vin-Man Nana and Papa, $25
In memory of Roger and Patricia Connor, $25
Happy Holidays from Dan and Jane, $100
Thank you St. Anthony and St. Jude, $20
In memory of our fathers Morris and Irving, $100
In memory of Ralph Oliver, $30
In memory of Albert and Lucy DiStefano, love son and family, $50
Merry Christmas Tim and Liam, $25
Merry Christmas to all from Tank and Princess, $25
The Rauhs grandchildren, $10
Merry Christmas, love Maddison, Griffin and Nolan, $25
Merry Christmas from the Finnegans, $100
In loving memory of Manya, love Jeri, Judi, Bev, Estelle, Natalie, Suzie and Kelly, $70
Thank you from a father and daughter who’ve been there, $10
Peggy, $100
Thanks for sharing Joe, $50
In memory of loved ones, love PVH, $20
In memory of Muriel, Mary, Kevin and Karen, $20
Christmas blessings, $25
In memory of Aunt Freida, Cindy, Steven and Nancy, $25
In memory of Michael S, $50
In honor of the Learning Center Mapleshade School East Longmeadow from Cameron Gaudet, $25
In memory of Jimmy and Theresa Chechile, love Tom and Fran, $20
In memory of Velma and Al Farland, Genevieve and MacDonough Foard, $300
Anonymous, $100
In thanksgiving for a favor received, $20
Thanks to our girl Mattie for 14 unforgettable years, thanks Bob D, hello Gracie, blessings to all, $30
Peace, love and joy from Will C, $30
In memory of Joseph Sherry Sr and Jeffrey Maggiolino, love Mom and Dad, $20
Merry Christmas, in memory of Carol and Jack, $100
In memory of my beloved husband, we all miss you very much CJ from Louise, $15
Memory of “Kenny” Krech and Virginia Holden from Mike, $25
In memory of Christmas birthday for Pat Parisi from Mimi and daughters, $10
In loving memory of Christine, Catherine and Daryl Weckerly from Bonnie and Jeffrey, $25
Robert and Cathy, $250
James and Barbara, $25
Liz, $25
In loving memory of our grandparents and great grandparents, Francis and Glenrose Rollet, with love from Jeremy, Hilarie, Delaney and Hailey Stebbins, $25
Anonymous, $100
In memory of Margaret and Russell Dale, $100
Merry Christmas Mrs. Jacobs, love Niki, $25
In memory of Mike Salron from Chris, Jon and Pat Salron, $50
Matthew, $150
Remembering Edward and Jane Gruszka and members of the Bednarz/Gruszka families, $250
The O’Brien family, $25
Katherine, $100
Merry Christmas, peace, love and joy to everyone from a friend, $100
In memory of Marge and George Zecher, $100
In memory of Armand H. Desilets from your son Paul, $10
In loving memory of Robert Bilton Sr. from wife Rosalie, sons Robert Jr. and Mark, and grandchildren Keith and Janie, $25
Staff donation from Valley West, $100
In loving memory of Andrea Moccio from the staff at Responsive Trucking, $150
Hayden Corporation, $250
On behalf of the students of Agawam High School, $1669.50
Happy Holidays from Minnechaug Regional High School, $3397.06
RECEIVED, $14,831.56
TOTAL TO DATE, $112,594.56
STILL NEEDED, $37,405.44