The next month will determine whether hundreds of children will be able to experience the joy of receiving gifts at Christmas — the type of memorable moment many children and families take for granted every year at the holidays.
That’s what the Toy for Joy Christmas campaign is all about. The 102nd year of this drive will channel the generosity of local citizens, organizations and businesses directly into bringing smiles to the faces of children in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Toy for Joy is sponsored by the Salvation Army and promoted and advertised by The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino. All contributions will be recognized and published in The Republican and The Reminders, and online by MassLive.com
The campaign is also supported by volunteers from individuals and groups, among them Eversource and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office.
With a campaign goal of $150,000, the donation season continues until Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Early donations from the first week of the campaign (before Nov. 20) topped $10,000. That was a good start, though it also means there’s a long way to go.
In those early donations were 24 contributions from individuals of between $100 and $250. They recognized the memory of loved ones or, in some cases, celebrations of the season with family members and friends still living.
But even the smaller contributions add up, for no donation is too big — or too small. Toy for Joy has succeeded for more than a century as a collaboration, with corporations, businesses, agencies and everyday residents and families all showing they care about their communities and their neighbors.
The backbone of this drive has been the broad nature of community support. That’s as true in 2024 as it was in 1924.
A popular way of marking the season is to make a contribution in the name of St. Jude — the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Toy for Joy turns otherwise “lost causes” into victories that families and children will remember for a lifetime, as examples that the spirit of their neighbors can make a difference.
Donation is easy. A coupon published with Toy for Joy stories may be used to submit a contribution by mail to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103.
Donors can also make online contributions at https://give.salvationarmy.org/give/212002/#!/donation/checkout.
Registration is closed. Information about pickup can be found at the registration link, which is https://www.salvationarmyma.org/toyforjoy.
Distribution will be at the Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield locations of the Salvation Army. Details for pickup vary based on location, and those details for each site are available on the link.
Distribution days at the Springfield Citadel at 170 Pearl St. will be Dec. 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. In Holyoke and Greenfield, distribution dates and times were assigned upon registration, which is required for all recipients.
Each child will receive age-appropriate toys, games, and books. Applicants will receive an email confirmation with their toy distribution date and time.
They must bring their email confirmation and photo ID for pickup. Their pickup time will be listed under “Order Summary.”
More information can be obtained by calling 413-733-1518.
Donations received week of Nov. 28:
- In memory of baby Izzy — $25
- In loving memory of my husband Richie, love Patty — $25
- Merry Christmas to all from Eleonora — $100
- In memory of Grandpa and Grandma Donaldson, Mikey and Paul — $25
- Honoring Vella and DiMonaco families and Samuel Bowles School staff — $100
- In memory of Bob and Tim Green — $50
- Bob love and miss you always — $50
- Anonymous — $10
- Peace on earth for all people — $20
- Anonymous — $20
- Christmas greetings from Bob, Sandy and Buddy — $25
- For my grandchildren, Emily, Christopher, Natalie, Nicholas and Noelle — $100
- In memory of Grammie, Pops and Gammie — $50
- Jeff — $25
- Happy Holidays — $5
- In memory of Salvatore and Filomena Ragone — $25
- In loving memory of my husband Harding J Stewart from Bev — $50
- Barbara — $25
- Merry Christmas, Chris and Scott — $100
- In memory of Grammy — $33
- In memory of Pat Harmon and St. Jude — $200
- In memory of my mother, Barbara Kupec — $25
- Be kind to one another — $50
- Merry Christmas from Susan and Tom — $75
- Merry Christmas Grandpa O, 22 years gone but always loved, Chris, Matt, Justin and Lindsey — $50
- Merry Christmas Grandpa Trombly and Meaney, forever in our hearts, love Chris, Matt, Justin and Lindsey — $100
- Peace, joy and a Merry Christmas — $20
- In loving memory of our Papa, we love and miss you, Colby and Shelby — $25
- In memory of Popa — $100
- Merry Christmas from Lauren Lee, Andrew, Katie and Loretta — $100
- From Pepere and Memere — $40
- Lufkin Lady — $100
- Thanksgiving for health of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren — $50
- In memory of Jake Visconti, love Grandma — $50
- In loving memory of our grandpa, Bob Wheeler from Ryan, Nicole, Brandon and Bobby — $50
- Merry Christmas to Christopher L — $50
- In memory of Ida Shea and Rita Maruca, love George and Karen — $200
- May the spirit of Christ bless you all — $500
- Jade, the sweetest girl, love you Dad — $15
- In loving memory of my husband Ed — $25
- In loving memory of family and friends no longer with us — $25
- In memory of Sheila and William Herchuck — $100
- In memory of Carmella and Joseph Staples from Craig and Darlene — $50
- In memory of Claire and Richard Mastey from Craig and Darlene — $50
- Merry Christmas from Tatum, Tenley, Liam and Ben — $100
- Memory of Carol — $35
- In memory of James Fogg, husband, and daughter Leslie Fogg — $50
- Merry Christmas from Keith and Joanne — $50
- Family and those who need prayers — $25
- In loving memory of Richard and Mary Bourquet and Maureen — $50
- We remember Pepa, with love Sophie and Lilah — $25
- Helen — $25
- Merry Christmas to the children — $50
- Merry Christmas, may God bless your New Year — $25
- You’re our star at Christmas now, miss you Kyle, love you more, Grandma Dorsey — $20
- For peace and sharing this season — $500
- Roberta — $10
- In memory of Mary and Tom O’Connor — $100
- In memory of Michelle Seybert — $100
- Junior-Jahbari — $5
- In memory of my wife Beverly and son Daniel, Lou — $25
- Connor — $20
- Helve — $40
- Susan — $100
- Nayeli — $10
- Logan — $25
- In memory of Maurice W. Dickey and Marion Melius Dickey — $400
- Isabella — $25
Received this week: $4,728
Total to date: $15,211
Still needed: $134,789
