Toy Give Away Event a Success:  Thank You for Your Generosity and Support!

Our school and parish community came together again for a wonderful event!  You donated approximately 1,600 new and gently used toys, books, games, stuffed animals and many, many holiday decorations to the annual St. Thomas More Toy Give Away.

Approximately 300 individuals picked out gifts for roughly 900 children.   Your donations will brighten many children’s Christmas and bring joy to many families.

Special thanks to:

• YOU, our donors, who make this possible
• All the volunteers who helped set up, organize, register, supervise and clean up
• Jeanne Kenney and Jerry Linke for arriving early to hand out numbers at the door and for their support in numerous other ways
• The middle school teachers and students who emptied the toy boxes and with David Ingwell helped set up the day before the event
• Dan Kohler and staff who also set up the auditorium
• Brian Ragatz and teachers for supporting and promoting the event in the school
• KP Waite for coordinating the St. Thomas More Advent Giving Tree
• Patty Brick for her support and for  promoting the event through the Swap Shop
• The Swap Shop donors who donated 12 tables full of holiday decorations
• The women of the STM Women’s Group for their support
• Laurie Barrett, Lauren Buonincontro, Patti Day and Nicole Johnson for answering numerous questions and phone calls
• The many Girl Scout Troops who helped, including:
  • 3^rd grade for donating and serving cookies and juice for waiting families
  • 4^th grade troop for donating and handing out wrapping supplies
  • 5^th grade for helping organize toys on Friday and for donating wrapping supplies and wrapping gifts on Saturday
  • 6^th grade for  manning the teen Toy Station on Saturday
  • 7^th grade for assisting in set up

The spirit of giving was seen and felt!  As a community we all should be proud of this outreach effort to the less fortunate.

With deep gratitude,

Myriam Grady and Debbie Lee