Volunteers Keith Brodeur and Laura Coates pick toys to fill bags of Toy for Joy holiday gifts to waiting recipients at the Springfield Salvation Army. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/17/2024The Republican
The 2024 Toy for Joy campaign has officially ended, but any donations received after the Christmas Eve deadline will be accepted.
Final figures for the 102nd year of the drive are not yet in, but the sponsoring Salvation Army, and the media outlets promoting and supporting the drive, again thank all those individuals, companies and organizations that answered the call to help deserving children of families in need.
The Springfield citadel of the Salvation Army served about 1,600 families and between 3,500 and 4,000 children. Citadels in Holyoke and Greenfield also served the area’s children from Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
The final list of donors will run in print and online on or around New Year’s Day, or in the first days of 2025. Toy for Joy was promoted and advertised by The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino.
Among the December donors, as usual, was the All States Transport trucking company in Springfield. Even while facing growing challenges within his industry, All States owner William “Billy” Kingston has never wavered in his company’s support for the campaign, and 2024 was no exception.
In recent years, in fact, the company has increased its donation. This year, a generous $7,500 was contributed, providing more proof that no matter how much challenge his successful business confronts, Kingston and his loyal team know the children of the region are facing their own challenges every year.
The joy of receiving books, games and toys that may otherwise be out of their reach makes this all the more worthwhile, according to Kingston.
Toy for Joy couponThe Republican, file
The donation this year, which matched the 2023 contribution, more than tripled what All States Transport had been donating just a few years ago.
“We’re more than happy to help. A lot of people out there are having a hard time,” Kingston said.
William “Billy” Kingston is the president of All States Transport in Springfield. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/1/2022
The staff of All States Transport in Springfield have made a large donation to the Toy for Joy campaign. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/1/2022
When he’s not thinking of the kids, the trucking and transport business occupies Kingston’s thoughts.
“Industries have good years and tough years, and ours is no different. In some ways, it’s becoming more difficult to operate, but we’re holding up pretty well — we’re not complaining,” he said.
“As always, we were thrilled to be part of Toy for Joy. It’s a cause we have always believed in, and still do.”
In addition to the sponsoring Salvation Army and its media partners, Toy for Joy was supported by volunteers from individuals and groups. Among them are Eversource, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, and ROVI Homes of Western Mass., a technologically advanced real estate agency based in Agawam.
Many donors chose to offer their help with a dose of humility. Recent contributions included a generous $500 from “Katherine,” and one $1,000 donation was sent anonymously.
Those who worked on the 102nd edition of Toy for Joy — and those families and children whose Christmas was made happier by the support — thank every single donor who participated.
