Thank You for Giving Hope to Thousands of Families this Year

On any given day in the month of December, a little bit of magic happens on the Project Self-Sufficiency campus: A racing boat packed with toys docks in the parking lot, college and high school students deliver thousands of freshly-baked cookies, a caravan of trucks laden with toys from the Santa Train draws up, scores of volunteers from local businesses and schools help to sort toys, a school bus disgorges thousands of gifts collected by local children. The result is a beautifully-arranged toy shop made available to more than 1,000 families selecting toys for more than 2,100 children and teens from our community this year. This is the Season of Hope. This is what it looks like to live in a community that cares.

The Season of Hope Toy Shop was made possible by so many generous and caring neighbors who contributed in a multitude of ways. This letter cannot begin to list them all, but we would like to acknowledge several. First, enormous thanks are due to those who partnered with Project Self-Sufficiency on the Season of Hope Toy Drive: First Hope Bank, Gravity DesignWorks, iHeartMedia, Inc., Intercar Mercedes Benz, Off Shore Marine, Pass it Along, The Printing Center, The New Jersey Herald, Selective Insurance Company of America, Service Electric Broadband Cable, Sparta Train Station, Stocker Bus Company, the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, Sussex County Community College, Sussex Honda, and the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

Parking facilities were made available to patrons and agency staff at the Sussex County Community College and the Newton VFW Post #5360. Special commendation is due to law enforcement personnel from the Newton, Andover and Ogdensburg Police Departments, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police, who volunteered their time to ensure the safety of the patrons, volunteers and staff at the Season of Hope Toy Shop.

We applaud the 31 schools which participated in the Stuff the Stocking competition, amassing more than 5,500 toys for children in need. This year, North Warren Regional and Pope John Middle School shared the coveted Stuff the Stocking trophy, bringing in a combined total of more than 1,800 gifts. The Hardyston School District claimed second place with 720 items, followed by three-time champion Green Hills with 355. Special thanks to the Stocker Bus Company for donating the use of their buses and drivers to pick up toys from the participating schools.

Thank you to the caring individuals, businesses, scouting troops, civic organizations, and churches which contributed new, unwrapped toys and gifts, or who donated money for the purchase of gifts, for the Season of Hope. Thank you to the many, many volunteers who donated their time and energy to make the Toy Shop run smoothly. We are also exceptionally grateful to the many singers and musicians who shared their talents to entertain our guests.

We must also spotlight the many Project Self-Sufficiency staff members who volunteered their time to operate the Season of Hope Toy Shop and whose ebullient spirit made this a joyous experience for all.

The Season of Hope invited all members of our community, from children to senior citizens, to come together in the spirit of compassion to brighten the holidays for our neighbors. In a time of so much strife in the world, it is wonderful to be reminded that endless kindness, goodness and hope exist right here in our own backyard. These efforts help us to transform lives all year round, but this tremendous tidal wave of generosity is truly inspiring. Thank you.

With Humbled and Grateful Hearts,

Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director

Beverly Gordon, President, Project Self-Sufficiency Board of Directors

J.P. Perry, Season of Hope Toy Drive Chairperson

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