Parenting Center Toy Drive Needs Donations

This year, in particular, the SOMSD Parenting Center needs your help to make its annual toy drive a success. The drive ends Dec. 13 for toys; cash donations should be in by 12/10 if possible. 

"Donations are way down this year," said Lorraine Caputo of the Parenting Center. "We have about 155 families who depend on us to provide their families with gifts."

Caputo said the center depends on donations as well so they can purchase toys to fill in the gaps. "We often need to buy more of something, we can only give so many stuffed animals and we have older kids to give gifts to as well," she said.   

You can donate at your child's school, at The Parenting Center at 525 Academy Street, and at certain businesses throughout town (see below).

The Parenting Center of SOMSD is holding its annual toy drive now through 12/13/12. The Toy Drive benefits students who live in our school district whose families live below the poverty line, and who are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. 

Please send all tax deductible donations to The Parenting Center at The SOMSD Board of Education at 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, New Jersey, 07040.   Checks may be made out to The Parenting Center Toy Drive.   All gifts should be unwrapped and can be delivered to The Parenting Center, 2nd floor, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, New Jersey.   

All donated gifts should be brand new. The gifts are for children ages birth through 17. Some ideas for gifts are games, puzzles, books, art projects, sports balls, baseball mitts, tea sets, dolls, jewelry, purses, make-up, nail polish, gloves, mp3 players and gift cards to Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, etc. Wrapping paper may be donated as well. Gifts for teens are especially needed.

For questions, call 973-762-5600, ext. 1850.   

Also, the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce is again supporting the Toy Drive. The following businesses are drop-off centers in town:

Bass Family Chiropractic- 491B Valley St.
Keller Williams MidTown Direct- 181 Maplewood Ave.
Scriveners- 178 Maplewood Ave.