This is Toy for Joy's 90th year.
LUDLOW — Ludlow Family Dentistry, for about a quarter of a century now, has made it an annual tradition to donate to the Toy for Joy holiday campaign.
Alissa Chapin, a dental assistant at the Kendall Street practice, said employees donate to Toy for Joy in lieu of giving gifts to each other.
“Sometimes you just don’t know what to buy,” said Chapin, talking on the idea of buying gifts for co-workers. “It’s for a good cause.”
This year, the practice contributed $300 towards brightening the Christmas mornings of thousands of needy children from across Western Massachusetts.
The 90th annual Toy for Joy campaign got off to a busy start last month with approximately 3,000 Greater Springfield families signing up for gifts for their children. The campaign is sponsored by The Republican and the Salvation Army.
Toy company Hasbro joined as partner last year, and has donated a portion of the toys for the program.
The remainder is funded by the generosity of readers of The Republican and Masslive.com. This year’s goal is $150,000.
The weeklong process of distributing all those toys ended last week.
This year, the program is being overseen by Salvation Army Capts. John and Ronda Ferreira, who took over this summer as co-commanders of the citadel from Thomas and Linda-Jo Perks, who have been reassigned to the Midwest.
State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, another longtime donor, contributed $200 to Toy for Joy this holiday season.
Also, $25 was given in celebration of the life of David Woodman. Woodman was the 22-year-old Southwick man whose heart stopped as Boston police took him into custody in 2008 during a celebration of the Boston Celtics’ NBA Championship; his family established a charitable foundation in his name.
This most recent batch of contributions tallies to $2,899. Some $38,157 has been raised to date, leaving $111,843 to be raised by noon on Christmas Eve Day.
For more information, call 733-7581. 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 at The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. until Dec. 21.
Here’s a list of the latest contributors:
- In loving memory of Rita A. Maruca from Karen and George Shea, $100
- Merry Christmas to all the children, in memory of Rita, $20
- Anonymous, $100
- In memory of my two special angels, love Peg, $25
- In memory of our father and Popou Socrates Babacas, with love from daughter Pam, son-in-law Bobby and grandchildren Krysten, Jen and Katie, $25
- Anonymous, $50
- Thank you St. Jude for prayers answered, CPO, $20
- Merry Christmas from Tim and Michelle, $25
- In memory of Donald Couchon, Mary Ann Salmen, Mary Ward and Evelyn Williams, $10
- In memory of my dear brother Neil Croteau, love Fran and Tom, $25
- Ruth, $25
- Happy Christmas to all, $30
- Happy Holidays from MJB, $10
- In memory of Genevieve and Henry Ciak, $50
- In loving memory of our son Tom, $75
- From Aiden and Caclyn LaPierre, $15
- Remembering Ray and Dot Hosley and June and George Keefe, $15
- In memory of Eleanor, George and Margaret Reilly, love Kathy, $25
- God bless the children, love Nancy and Roger, $25
- In memory of Joe and Noel Fortier and Lisa Meade, always in our hearts, $10
- In memory of Jesse Wood, $25
- Celebrating the life of David Woodman, $25
- In honor of our parents Tim Dunne and Merrill and Tom McManamy, $25
- In memory of Wilma, $25
- In loving memory of my boxer Ozzie, $30
- Janz and Ted, $100
- In memory of my dear boy, $18
- Merry Christmas and God bless from Tank and Princess, $20
- Noel Joyeux, $25
- Memory of Andrew and Una Parsons, $100
- In memory of Marge, Ukie and Jeff Rainaud, $25
- In loving memory of Richard and Mary Bourque and Maureen, $25
- In memory of my husband Arthur Krowchenko, $25
- In loving memory of Con and Mary Buckley from Peg, $30
- In memory of Raymond Dupre, so missed at this time of year, $20
- In loving memory of Lee Allman, $10
- Remembering Manya, love Jeri, Judi, Bev, Estelle, Natalie, Suzie and Kelli, $70
- In loving memory of Nani from Keith and Jo, $25
- In memory of our parents and extended family members, $50
- In memory of our beloved Peggy over the rainbow, $50
- Remembering Mamie, Pop, Marg and Flip from Jack and Mary, $50
- In loving memory of my husband Kerry Blanchard, love Bette, $25
- In memory of Margaret and Roy Smith, love Margaret, Linda and Bette, $50
- In memory of Marion Wineberg, $20
- Delores, $20
- In loving memory of Paul Jr., Dad and family members, $10
- For prayers answered, publication promised from Andrea, $10
- Remembering Jake, $25
- Celebrating Lizzie’s first Christmas, $25
- In loving memory of our parents from Bill and Jean, $25
- Remembering Mom, Wally and Mum, $25
- In memory of deceased loved ones from Richard and Ellen, $20
- Anonymous, $100
- In memory of Pierre, Finnegan, Melvin and Kelsey, love Fawn, Monkey, Milton and Moses, $321
- In memory of the late George Speliopoulos, $20
- Happy Holidays, hope there is much happiness in your hearts and enjoy your family or whoever you’re able to hug and smile this holiday season, $125
- In memory of my grandsons Jonathan and Louis Hyder and Benjamin MacDugall with love from Grandma Misiaszek, $25
- Wishing you the happiest of holidays and joy in the new year, from Senator Stan Rosenberg and staff, $200
- In memory of my friend Ben Larkin, $100
- Merry Christmas to all from Drs. Szarlan, Wegiel and Mitera, Ludlow Family Dentistry, $300
RECEIVED: $2,899
TOTAL TO DATE: $38,157
STILL NEEDED: $111,843