For the sixth year in a row, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department will be donating both its staff and financial support to helping make the Toy for Joy Christmas campaign a success.
Since beginning its collaboration with the drive that is sponsored by the Salvation Army, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office staff have volunteered countless hours to assist with campaign, which is now in its 102nd year of bringing toys, books and holiday joy to hundreds of families and thousands of children in need in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
For five to seven days each holiday season, HCSO staff can be found at the Salvation Army’s Pearl Street facility, moving and organizing thousands of toys and helping distribute them to families in need.
Santa’s own elves would be proud.
“As we enter our sixth year of partnering with Toy for Joy, we’re more excited than ever to roll up our sleeves and support this incredible effort,” Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi said.
“Our team is committed to making sure these toys reach families who need them most, bringing joy to children across our community. There’s no better way to celebrate the season than by helping others celebrate,” Cocchi said.
Support from volunteer individuals and groups allows the campaign to achieve what any such worthy drive aims to accomplish. It creates a more efficient campaign, yes, but also helps drive down costs so that donations from generous, holiday-minded contributions go to their intended destination — gifts that bring smiles to the faces of qualifying children 16 and under, and their families.
Without this support, administrative or labor costs would eat into that intended destination. Instead, Toy for Joy corporate, business and individual donors know their contributions are going directly to the right place.
No donation is too big or too small. Proceeds go directly to the cause they were intended. This drive is run through the sponsorship of the Salvation Army and promoted and advertised by
The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino.
Volunteers from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Dept. help sort through a donation of books to the Toy for Joy campaign from Link to Libraries at the Springfield Salvation Army. (don Treeger / The Republican) 12/6/2023The Republican
With a campaign goal of $150,000, the donation season is underway and continues until Christmas Eve, Dec.24. All donations will be recognized and published in The Republican and Reminder Publications, The first published list is below.
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
Families with children 16 or under are eligible to be recipients, but prior registration is required.
Information for registration and 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.
Each child will receive 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.”
Gifts will be distributed in mid-December. More information can be obtained by calling 733-1518.
Contributions to the Toy for Joy fund:
Please keep all our children safe and happy, from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, $200
Sunny, 50
Have a happy Christmas, Aspen and Harry, $50
Peace and blessings to all from Bill and Rita, $100
In memory of Hazel and Athos Rossi and their children, Peter, Nola, Susan and Tina, $20
Merry Christmas from Dan and Bev, $25
In memory of my parents Albert and Lucy Distefano, love family, $20
In memory of Bob who loved Christmas, $20
In memory of Jill Stefanik, $10
Merry Christmas, peace and love, Nora, $25
In loving memory of Cheryl Ann Levy, $25
Loving memories of Ruth and Bud Pederzoli from their grateful daughter, $25
Lovingly remembering the Dunn and Moran families especially John and Dan, $25
William, $250
Kenn and Kathy Sinclair, $100
Sarah K. Mitchell, $350
RECEIVED $1,295
TOTAL TO DATE $1,295
STILL NEEDED $148,705
