© The republican/masslive.com/TNS You can print and fill out this coupon to make a donation, or donate online at give.salvationarmy.org/toyforjoy.
Bob Bolduc says the kids are our future. Marsha Del Monte gives the credit to the customers, with a nod to store managers.
But however they describe the need and the response, the bottom line with Pride Stores is action. This year, the local and regional chain delivered in a big way with a $16,000 donation to the Toy for Joy fund, ensuring that many, many deserving children will not be denied the joy of Christmas.
© Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com/masslive.com/TNS Pride Stores donated $16,000 to the Toy for Joy fund. From left are company president Marsha Del Monte, store employees Jill Ramsdell and Sha Hossain, Pride Stores owner and CEO Robert Bolduc, Danielle LaTaille, social services director for the Salvation Army and David Horgan, director of advertising for Pride Stores.
"We have great customers. I also know our customer accounts at each store, and we keep our managers' feet to the fire," said Del Monte, the company president.
"We thanked them for their efforts last year, but we also said, 'Not good enough. We can do better.' We know if we ask our customers to get behind this charity, they will."
And they did. Customers donated more than $10,000 to the Christmas drive, which brings toys, books and happiness to children in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Bolduc, CEO of the Pride chain, said the company kicked in its own sizable donation of more than $5,000, raising the final total to $16,000.
It far exceeded the company's 2018 donation, which was generous in its own right at $10,000. All 30 Pride stores in the region collected donations from customers during December.
Toy for Joy's drive officially ended its 97th year on Christmas Eve. Mail donations sent just before Christmas and received after the holiday will be channeled directly into the fund.
Toy for Joy is a collaborative effort by the Salvation Army in association with The Republican, El Pueblo Latino and MassLive. Media partners include Reminders Publishing and The Westfield News. Community partners are the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, Pride Stores and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. The Davis foundation provided funds to help ensure books are included for every child who receives gifts.
When gifts were distributed, the kids were thrilled — and grateful. Isn't that part of what Christmas is all about?
"We had such a good year this year," Salvation Army social services director Danielle LaTaille said.
"Everybody was so happy. (Families) were not only grateful for the toys, but for their quality. People said these were the best toys we'd ever had."
The Pride Stores donation provided a tremendous boost in the final days of the campaign.
"Pride Stores and their customers have been incredible partners to the Toy for Joy effort," said Cynthia G. Simison, assistant to the publisher and managing editor at The Republican. "Their generosity this year is overwhelming at a time when the need to Toy for Joy is also great. Kindness is an integral part of the company philosophy at Pride, and this donation clearly demonstrates kindness from the staff and customers."
Simison said she holds out hope that last-minute donations will help narrow the shortfall in this year's campaign, for which a $150,000 goal was set.
The donation by Pride helped push the drive past the $100,000 mark. With the help of many other generous contributors, the total stood at $125,005 on Christmas Day. Simison said her Christmas wish would be to reach the goal.
"I keep the faith until the very last contributions arrive. We will publish a final list of donors next week," she said.
"Our readers and Toy for Joy supporters have helped make this Christmas morning a happy one for thousands of children and their families across Western Massachusetts. We send our thanks to each and every one."
It was a team effort at Pride.
"Marsha fired up the troops to make sure this was a success at all our stores," Bolduc said.
"Bob has been doing this long before (I came)," Del Monte said. "He knows to invest in children and communities builds better communities."
Bolduc understands the problems facing society at all levels. There's only one way out, he said.
"If we're going to fix the mess we're in, we've got to start with the kids. That's the solution," he said.
"The situations some are in are not their fault. Everywhere you turn, you see kids facing problems."
Pride tries to help by hiring those old enough to work. Bolduc wishes he could do more.
"I saw numbers that say 42 of 100 young people in Springfield are without jobs. We're all stuck, living in that bubble that goes through their systems," he said.
"We see kids coming in and looking for a job. If we can hire one in 10, we're lucky."
Del Monte said Pride was involved in a school program that rewarded children with their own toothbrushes. What most people take for granted takes on special meaning for those who have gone without.
"One little girl was so excited, just to have her own toothbrush. She said in her family, they'd had to share," she said.
Pride therefore looks to help in any way it can. Executives believe there is no better avenue than Toy for Joy, which gives children a toy, a book and most of all a message that people care and there's reason for hope.
"Who can't get behind a charity for children? Our customers are wonderful and so generous," Del Monte said.
Contributions from individuals, companies or groups may be mailed with the coupon accompanying this story to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01101. They may also be dropped off in person on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at The Republican offices.
Online donations may be made at give.salvationarmy.org/toyforjoy.
Here is a list of recent contributions:
Merry Christmas Gramma and Poppa, we love you, Emily, Owen, Sam, Alex, Brayden, Liam and Eli $5
Happy Birthday Mom, Gramma and Great-Gramma, enjoy your day on the 27th, from all of us $5
In honor of my grandsons Brayden, Liam and Eli, thanks for bringing so much joy into all of our lives $5
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Pride stores and all their customers $16,000
Shea $20
Blessings and healing to best cuz Robbie and Bill B., Bill K., Bob Z., John C. and Carol D., love the Wrights $25
In memory of baby William J. Whyte, love mom $25
In memory of good friends Kathy, Maureen and Jan, love Wendy $25
For my three amazing children and my special 4 grandchildren, love mom and Gramme $25
In memory of the Clark and Whyte families, love Wendy $25
In loving memory of my dad and nephew Nicholas, Merry Christmas $25
In memory of Mike and Judy Naylor, Merry Christmas $25
In memory of Allen H. St. Onge $250
In loving honor of Sasha and Lola $20
Merry Christmas, in memory of Grandma Ruth Navone $100
In memory of Mom, Dad and Suzy from Ray $100
Blessings for our healthy grandkids Maggie, Kaz, Robert, Jake and Zach $25
Merry Christmas from Jean and Paul $25
Merry Christmas to all from Ryan, Lauryn, Rachel and Ashley $25
In memory of Mark Sheridan, love Gabby, Kylie and Jackie $60
In memory of Patty Healey $50
Merry Christmas from George and Clare $25
Merry and blessed Christmas to you and yours, the Salvons $50
Walter $25
From the family of Joseph "Bud" Korman $50
Bill and Helene $25
In memory of our angel Glenn Peter Lacey $25
Barb and Jeff $40
In memory of passed loved ones $100
Robert $100
Merry Christmas from Priscilla Ostrander Teixeira $25
In loving memory of my mother from Nancy $25
Merry Christmas from Cameron, Brianna, Kayla, Maxwell, Ashlee ad Madison Carlin $30
Hadliegh, Cooper, Bobby, Maya, Fiona, Allison, Avery, Aurora, Elle, Brooke, Mika, Emrys, Vivian and Peyton $44
In memory of my grandparents Joseph and Patricia Chicklowski and Sotirios and Panagiota Vakakas and my uncle Charles Newman, love Tricia $25
In memory of Captain Dave Piquette, the greatest fisherman ever, miss you from Mike $25
For Joe Conway and Mary Brown, love Chris $15
In honor of Christina, Lauren, Emily, Kate and Mikey $15
Merry Christmas Springfield $150
In lieu of gifts to my godchildren Kristin and Angela, will honor the memory of their vo' Lourdes $100
Merry Christmas to the children, in honor of our grandchildren Noah, Camila and Lana $100
In loving memory of Tio Nelson, vo' Lina and vo' Lourdes, Brian, Colleen, Mathew and Melissa $100
In memory of Gram and Dad, love Emmie, Caleb, Matt, Pete, Heather and Dave $200
Memory of Robert and Antoinette Panetti $20
In memory of Helga and Niels, Blanche and Wesley $50
In loving memory of my dear friend Felix Valletti $100
Merry Christmas from Tom and Lynne $100
In memory of Suki Beucke, the Christmas puppy $20
Merry Christmas from Sue and Kevin $25
Merry Christmas from Susan and Tom $30
God bless us one and all $25
Merry Christmas to all our little angels $50
In memory of Evergreen and Jonathan Bass and Mozell and Clayton Williams $100
In loving memory of my husband Philip $30
Merry Christmas Steve, love and miss you more each year Mom, Dad and Mike $25
In memory of Joseph F., Claire E. and 1st Lt. Michael P. Austin from Valley Farm $30
In memory of Mary Ellen Brown Kuzmeski from Valley Farm $10
In loving memory of our son George Ginopoulos 8-6-94 - 1-14-2012 $8
God bless the children $100
For our grandchildren Tristin, MayRose, Justin Jr. and Jackson $200
Merry Christmas to all $20
In loving memory of Pat (Connors) Vivenzio and Chuck Connors from Anne and family $20
In memory of Todd A. Bristol from Maureen, John and Susie $75
In memory of Ann Torrey, dedicated volunteer reader and butterfly lover $100
Merry Christmas to all from the St. Jacques $100
In memory of our dear daughter Linda Gaudette $10
In loving memory of our parents, Glenrose and Francis "Red" Rollet and Doris and Henry Lamoureux $25
In memory of Roger Coulombe, love Pauline $25
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all $25
In loving memory of Tom and Mary O'Connor and Bob Duquette, love Christopher and Katie $25
Bless the children $25
In memory of our parents from Meg and Paul $50
Merry Christmas Charlotte, Brendan, Lilly, James and Teddy $100
Merry Christmas $50
In memory of Jean $50
Merry Christmas from Ronnie and Virginia Kibbe $25
Merry Christmas from all my grandchildren $100
Remembering Christmas memories 150 Merry Christmas $50
Dad, we miss you and Luke, love the Whitneys $25
Lisa $10
In memory of all our lost loved ones $25
Happy Holidays from Tri-State Acceptance Corp. $100
Happy Holidays from Doncasters, Inc., Storms Forge Division $200
Loving memory of Barbara Martin 1,000 RIP Frank O'Brien, Mayhem $5
In memory of the Sandy Hook children from Sue $10
Thank you St. Jude for your intercessions, Billy G. and Dottles $10
Blessed are the children, Santa's helpers at Agawam Town Hall, Cumby's, Southgate Liquors, Geissler's, Berkshire Bank, Ram Ambulance, the Feeding Hills Wisemen, Medium Al, and Corey and friends as we remember Henry "Bud" Sullivan USMC, Iwo Jima and Vito N. Depalo, athletics volunteer, Agawam $460
Harolds Chicken Shack #88 meets beer, Chicago Illinois, Merry Christmas $25 Damion says Merry Christmas to all 50 From Bacci's girls, Evelyn and Callie Parker $25
Have a good diggin Christmas from Gabby Hayes $75 Thanksgiving to St. Jude $20
In memory of my husband Felix E. Matt $50
Anonymous $10
In memory of all our deceased members of the Italian American War Vets Post 64 $200
In loving memory of granddaughter Olivia Ross from Grammy and Grampy 50
In loving memory of Robert Bilton Sr. from wife and children $25
Merry Christmas and peace to all from Mary Ann $25
In memory of George and Mildred Strobel $50
On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, love will prevail $200
Kitchen Table Taxes, Palmer, MA $300
In memory of Ron and Helen Rushby $20
In memory of Raymond and Patricia Kennedy from RAK $45
In memory of Kathy and Al Fortin from RAK $45
In memory of Ena Flynn and Brian Fontaine from RAK $45
For our young and our old who are very special $40
Tom $50
Merry Christmas $20
All children deserve happy lives and happy holidays. Peace on Earth from Steph, Jeff and Gab Poindexter $50
In memory of my parents from Melinda $100
In loving memory of Colin James Cavanaugh, with love from Mike, Robin, Kel, Kate, Pat, and Sean $35
Jennifer $50
Vera and David $150
On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, love will prevail $200
In loving memory of Thomas Gaudrault from friends and family who contribute to the Tommy Recycle Fund $200
MassLive and The Republican are happy to make a donation of $5 for every guest that used our photo-booth at our Worcester office holiday party. $150
In memory of my mother and two sisters from Peg 25 Deborah $100
Matching contributions from The Republican employees $2,550
In honor of Richard C. Garvey, editor and mentor $50
For Nemo and the Boston Red Sox $50
With gratitude for Tracey, the Toy for Joy angel $50
Received: $26,932.00
Total to Date: $125,005.00
Still Needed: $24,995.00
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