Once again, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department is stepping up to help “drive the drive” and help make the Toy for Joy Christmas campaign a success.
That success is measured by the thousands of deserving children who would otherwise be left out of the joy of receiving Christmas gifts and age-appropriate books, that lift their literacy skills, were it not for a campaign that is underway in its 103rd year.
“Our annual partnership with the Salvation Army’s Toy for Joy is more than a donation — it’s our staff giving their time to organize, sort and deliver gifts,” Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said.
“I’m proud of our team stepping up each holiday season to help families across Hampden County to ensure children in need have a great Christmas,” Cocchi said.
True to those words, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department not only donates thousands of dollars from various in-house sources each year, but also provides volunteer services in the execution of the toy distribution itself.
Through this donation of time and effort from this office and other worthy volunteer agencies, the sponsoring Salvation Army can avoid operating costs or face a downsizing of service — and earmark donations directly to the cause that donors are supporting, the children of Pioneer Valley.
For donors, an important change to be noted is that this year, there is a new mailing address for mail-in contributions. Donations are to be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 971, Springfield, Massachusetts 01101.
Every Toy for Joy donation dollar received at that address will go directly to the 2025 Toy for Joy campaign.
This year’s campaign is again sponsored by the Salvation Army through its Western Massachusetts locations in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield. It will be advertised and promoted in The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino.
Reminder Publishing is again helping lead this multi-platform collaboration. This campaign will again deliver age-appropriate toys, games and books to deserving children throughout Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
This is Registration Week for Toy for Joy. Families with children 16 or under are eligible to be recipients, but prior registration is required.
From the Springfield Citadel, registration will be accepted (online only) through Friday, Nov. 14. The site address is SAAngeltree.org.
Once an application is submitted, the applicant will receive a confirmation email with a day and time for pickup. Because of time, space and demand, designated pickup times cannot be changed.
They must bring their email confirmation and photo ID for pickup. For information, please call 413-733-1518.
Pickup dates will be Dec. 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16.
Residents of Holyoke, Chicopee, Granby and South Hadley will be served by the Holyoke Salvation Army Citadel, also through Friday, Nov. 14, but with in-person registration.
For Franklin County residents, the Greenfield Citadel held in-person registration earlier this week.
Each child will receive toys, games and books. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Applicants must register only once per household.
Giving is easier than ever, and no donation is too big or too small. Every contribution goes to deserving children in need. Donations that honor the memories of departed or living parents, family members, friends, other loved ones and even cherished pets are popular and encouraged.
Mail-in contributions go to the address shown on the coupon.
For online donations, donors can use the general link: tinyurl.com/ToyForJoy2025.
This year’s Toy for Joy deadline is Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Without this campaign, thousands of families would watch more economically fortunate families celebrate the joy of Christmas while their own children were left out.
Toy for Joy removes that difficult and even painful circumstance and opens the door for those children to join in the season’s true holiday spirit, too.
Toy for Joy makes children happy through the generosity of the region’s individuals, agencies and business. The need is as great or greater than ever. The Salvation Army and its media partners urge support once again for a campaign that has proven its goodness over the test of time.
