The Waddell brothers, originally from Maplewood and graduates of Columbia High School, have returned to their roots after 30 years to work in the town they grew up in — and they're diving right into community life, picking up food and toy donations throughout the holidays.

"In business and in life, timing can mean everything, and my brother Tom and I just happened to experience two major life changes that brought us back together — and back to Maplewood," said J.P. Waddell.  In J.P.'s case, he took an early retirement package from Prudential in Newark after a rewarding 30-year career in marketing and advertising, with a specialty in producing advertising for Prudential Real Estate.

"And a year earlier, I sold my successful Junior Olympic Gymastics Training Center in Mays Landing and had joined Coldwell Banker as a realtor, which has been the best decision I've made in my career," added Tom. "I have found success working in a buyer's market."

So with combined backgrounds in real estate sales and marketing, and the mutual opportunities to start fresh, the brothers had a great idea. Both missed the towns they grew up in and the friends they still had close ties with in Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn and Summit.

"Why not put our talents together and return to the great towns we missed? "It would mean so much more, and we could do even more, re-connecting with the old gang," said J.P.

"And I'd already been approached by several classmates from Columbia High to represent them as buyers or sellers in the area," said Tom. "So this really just felt good, and like the time was right to come back to Maplewood, and get our business going where our roots are."

"Since we left high school to start our careers 30 years ago on different paths, much has changed here. There's so much more to offer now, for example, the mid-town direct train service didn't exist in 1980," said J.P. "We recognized a niche marketing opportunity, and created midtowndirectmoves.com to reach people living and working in the New York City area, to tell them about the great inventory of beautiful homes and about the values of small town life we enjoy in the Maplewood area," added Tom.

To kick start their return to Maplewood, the brothers have partnered with the Marines Toys for Tots program and organized a toy drive using their Coldwell Banker pickup truck to offer residents an easier way to make the holidays brighter for needy kids this year.

On Saturday, Dec 10, the Waddell brothers were accompanied by "The Grinch" in downtown Maplewood at the Holly Walk to schedule toy donation pickups. The holiday Grinch character greeted kids in town and gamely posed for dozens of photo ops.  The Waddell brothers hope to fill their pickup to the brim with toys before Christmas. Already, over 100 toys were generously donated by Briarpatch Toy Company in Millburn.

Mimi Stella, a Columbia alumni who went to school with J.P. and Tom and remembered them, saw the brother's facebook posting about the drive and responded immediately with a huge toy donation.

"This just goes to show the power of facebook and other social media as a positive force, and how we can all re-connect and combine our resources for the greater good," said J.P. "We connected with old friends in Maplewood Village and had a lot of fun seeing the smiles on so many kids," said Tom. The brothers, who dubbed their real estate team "Waddell & Waddell" are hoping to help more people shop, finance and move into the great towns served by mid-town direct train service from South Orange to Madison.

The Waddell Brothers are scheduling Toys For Tots and NJ Community Foodbank donation pickups through the holidays.  To donate a toy or food to needy families, call J.P. on 908-319-3787 or email him at james.waddell@cbmoves.com. You can learn more at their website www.midtowndirectmoves.com.

—As reported to Claire Sinclair by J.P. Waddell.