The 2024 Toy for Joy campaign is in the books. The thousands of families and children who enjoyed toys, gifts, books and games this Christmas season offer their heartfelt thanks for the generosity of their fellow citizens and neighbors.
So do the Salvation Army, which once again sponsored the drive, and the media outlets that promoted and advertised the campaign. Those include The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino. All contributions will be recognized and published in The Republican and Reminder Publications, and online by MassLive.com.
The final numbers came to $101,972 for the 102nd edition of Toy for Joy, one of New England’s most enduring holiday traditions. Thanks in part to a very thoughtful $500 donation from the O’Brien family, whose names are listed below, the drive was able to top the $100,000 mark in the final days.
A generous $300 donation came from MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke, which offers direct access to compassionate inpatient psychiatric care, providing critical support to young people in need.
“The disruptions brought by the holidays can amplify mental health struggles in adolescents. School, a place of stability and routine, often serves as a protective factor for teens. When school is not in session, adolescents lose access to that structure and support system, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression,” said Shelley Zimmerman, MiraVista’s hospital administrator.
“The holidays can mean heightened exposure to family conflicts, financial stress or unresolved grief. Others may face unique challenges living outside their homes in foster care or residential placements,” Zimmerman said.
“Adolescents are particularly vulnerable during the holidays. Our goal is to ensure that young people have access to a safe, supportive environment where they can stabilize, heal, and receive the care they need,” Zimmerman added.
The Holyoke agency opened in 2021. Zimmerman added that MiraVista’s Direct Admission Process allows streamlined inpatient psychiatric care specifically designed for adolescents aged 13-17, or 18 if still in high school.
Needed Toy for Joy support also came from other sources. A wonderful $10,000 donation came from Hope for Youth and Families (HYF), an organization that supports youth from underserved communities in Greater Springfield and was begun by Bob Bolduc, former owner of the Pride Stores chain.
Bolduc sold the chain in 2022. Since then, Bolduc and HYF purchased the former CityStage community theater and is transforming it into a multidisciplinary arts center for theater, music, dance, media and a creative art studio.
In addition to the arts theater, HYF has programs underway that allow middle school children to raise their reading levels, and to help students who desire to attend four-year colleges. The program offers counseling, visits, test preparation and other assistance.
The HYF donation was the largest of the drive, but every single contribution — large or small, and from individuals, families, organizations or businesses — went directly to the children of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
The Springfield law office of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy Pc remembered treasured colleague Robin Morris, who passed away more than 20 years ago, as they always do. This year’s generation donation was $1,120.
Wel-Design Alarm Systems of Wilbraham contributed $600. The students of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, with a salute to Superintendent Eric Duda, delivered $315.
Salvation Army citadels in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield served as Toy for Joy distribution centers.
A final list of donors is listed with this story, which wraps up the latest edition of a campaign that has lasted more than a century.
Link to Libraries, a Hampden-based nonprofit, delivered 1,000 books to the Toy for Joy campaign. For many children, this will provide an introduction to reading and a gateway to learning in elementary, middle school and beyond.
Jiggy’s in Enfield donated hundreds of toys. Donations from employees of The Republican and Reminders, and matching contributions from the companies, helped push the final total over $100,000.
The campaign was supported by volunteers from individuals and groups. Among them are Eversource, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), and ROVI Homes of Western Mass., a technologically advanced real estate agency based in Agawam.
The HCSO also contributed several thousand dollars through their various departments.
Donations received this week:
- In memory of my running buddies George Ryan and Ed Hanechek — $50
- Denise — $20
- God bless — $50
- Violet — $25
- In memory of Gene and Roseabell Brassard and Stanley and Ethel Cortis — $25
- Enjoy your best Christmas ever from the O’Brien’s, Bob, Ryan and family, Brendan and family and Leslie, Jim and Emily Roux — $500
- Merry Christmas Kendra, Kelsey, Tom and Cecilia — $30
- In loving memory of Hilda Nilson — $25
- In memory of the Kazlauskas and Calvin J. Arnold Jr. families — $50
- Anonymous — $30
- Chapman — $25
- In memory of my beloved husband SSGT Gary M. Turner, I miss you everyday — $20
- In memory of Raymond and Patricia Kennedy from RAK — $45
- In memory of Ena Flynn, Brian Fontaine and Al and Kathy Fortin from RAK — $45
- Anonymous — $100
- In loving memory of my adorable husband from Irma — $100
- SAC — $25
- Jonathan — $50
- In memory of Mom and Dad — $50
- In memory of Jim and Anna — $100
- In loving memory of my husband Loren — $200
- In memory of Robert, Mary, Tiger and Button — $25
- Peace in the new year — $25
- Merry Christmas from Cameron, Brianna, Kayla, Maxwell, Ashlee and Madison Carlin — $50
- In memory of Dorothy Babinski and Irving Bean from Gail and Albert — $100
- Blessings Sarah, Ethan, Colin, Cam and Evie from grandparents Bean — $50
- In memory of Abigail Maciorwski and Hazel Affentio, love Gail — $50
- In memory of Agnes Brueno Platt and Nancy Bean Morrissey, love Albert — $50
- In memory of deceased Babinski family members — $25
- In honor and memory of Western Mass Hospital employees and retirees — $25
- In memory of Elizabeth McCartney, Suffield, CT, rest in peace — $10
- Joyful memories, Pepper, Lucy, Sarge and Cleo — $25
- Remembering Pelletier and Frankel loved ones — $100
- For the kids, Merry Christmas from the Sheehan girls — $200
- Matching employee donations from the Republican and Reminders — $2710
- In loving memory for deceased members of the Bertini, Almeida and Mastroianni families — $20
- In honor of my best friends, Rob and Wanda Boisselle — $1
- Thank you for this wonderful program from Patricia — $100
- Received this week: $5,131
- Total to date: $101,972
