Each year, New Community Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson organizes and oversees a toy drive to ensure that children receive presents for Christmas. She finds out what the children would like for the holidays and communicates that to donors who purchase items.
These generous supporters of New Community and St. Rose of Lima parish allowed Wilson to distribute more than 2,000 gifts to families this season.
“It is a joy to me when I see so many children in need smiling from ear to ear,” Wilson said.
In addition to the annual toy drive, Wilson also coordinates a turkey drive so that families can prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
We are deeply grateful to the following groups and individuals for spreading the spirit of joy during the 2022 holiday season:
- St. Paul’s Abbey, Newton, N.J. – Brother Jee, donated Christmas trees
- Mr. Mark Carelli and Family, Maplewood, N.J.
- Weichert Realty (The Mill), Maplewood, N.J. – Rebecca Berenson, Coordinator
- Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, South Orange, N.J. – Anne Moore and parishioners
- Millburn Fire Department, Millburn, N.J. – Fire Chief Robert Echavarria, Ted and coworkers
- Frank Consentine, Somerset, N.J.
- St. Helen Catholic Church, Westfield, N.J. – Marilyn Ryans, Coordinator
- Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Summit, N.J. – Brian Topping, coworkers and students
- St. Rose of Lima Academy, Short Hills, N.J. – Elizabeth Guarnieri, Dan Solazzi and parents
- Our Lady of the Lake, Verona, N.J. – Barbara Yates and parishioners
- Notre Dame Catholic Parish, North Caldwell, N.J. – Donna Zarros, Coordinator
- Seton Hall University School of Law and The Thomas More Society – Father Nicholas Gengaro, Coordinator
- St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Bloomfield, N.J. – Lorraine McMillian and Judy Nitkowski, Coordinators
- Glenwood Elementary School, Short Hills, N.J. – Leslie Eible, Elizabeth Sherman and Jessica Marinoff, Outreach Committee Co-Chairs, and Dr. Jasin, Principal
- St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Summit, N.J. – Margaret Strong and Theresa Sweeney
- Church of the Assumption Catholic Church, Emerson, N.J. – Sandy Johnson, Coordinator
- St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Cedar Grove, N.J. – Brenda Pereira
- Meyner and Landis, Counselors at Law, Newark, N.J. – Cindy Oliveira Oswald and staff
- Mr. and Mrs. Desfardins, Maplewood, N.J.
- Columbia High School, Maplewood, N.J. – Marcia Hicks and students
- Kathryn Grifonetti and Matthew Perricone of The Leonidas Foundation
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, West Orange, N.J. – Pat Paxton, Coordinator
- William and Kathy Hoffman, Lebanon, N.J.
Thanksgiving Turkey Donations
- St. Rose of Lima Parish, Short Hills, N.J. – Mike Roberts, Coordinator, and parishioners
- Kathryn Grifonetti, Old Tappan, N.J.
- The Leonidas Foundation, Wycoff, N.J. – Matthew Perricone
