A Successful Toy Drive

Last week we conducted our annual North Shore holiday toy drive with North Shore 104.9FM, where we aired live from 9 different broadcast locations in an effort to collect toys for local children, which ultimately were donated to area charities. It was an overwhelming success yet again, but it wouldn’t have been without the help of so many special individuals who volunteered their services.

I want to thank Governor-elect Charlie Baker; Representative Bob Fennell and the people at the Capitol Diner; Senator Tom McGee; Joe Picano and the members of the Lynn High School Chorus; Craig VanRemoortel; North Shore Community College President Patricia Gentile; Salem State University President Patricia Meservey; April Renzella; Melissa Gaspar and the Flint Public Library; Paul Richardson, his wife, and his sons Peter and Christopher; the children of the Howe-Manning Elementary School and their choral director Carolyn Colby; the children of the Fuller Meadow school and their choral director Meghanne Alvarado; Dawson’s True Value Hardware; Representative Jerry Parisella; the Beverly High School Chorus and their choral director Lyn Pilanen; the First Ipswich Bank and President Russell Cole; Frank Stewart; Ipswich’s 5th grade string orchestra and their director Marissa Scarano; the AMVets; the Patriot Riders; Woodman’s of Essex; Dan King; Teen Challenge; the Manchester Athletic Club; Chelsea Berry; the North Shore Ringers; Heidi Dallin and the children at the Gloucester Stage Company Theatre; the Shalin Liu Performance Center; the Rockport 6th Grade Orchestra and directors Nathan Cohen and Patti Pike; Superintendent Rob Liebow; Tony Hilliard and his wife; the Cape Ann Savings Bank and President Bucky Rogers; La Petite Choral, Optimistic Voices, and their choral director Wendy Manninen; Leo Francis; Paul “Sasquatch” Cohan; Fly Amero and Allen Estes; Rudy Machi; Joanne & Anthony Marks; Carlos Menezes, Sr.; Shane Wilson; and Todd Tanger and all of our partners at North Shore 104.9FM.

These are just a few of the wonderful people who contributed greatly to this year’s toy drive, and I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I also want to say thank you to all those who contributed to the toy drive by bringing a toy, gift card, or money. Through your generosity and the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers, we will ensure Christmas morning is a special moment for many area children on the North Shore. Posted below and in the “Read more” section are several photos that were captured during the course of our 12+ hour toy drive.