To the community:
In the middle of a pandemic, with so much uncertainty in the world, one thing still
remains true: Verona is an amazing town!
With your help, we have been able to donate to four worthy charities. The Township of Verona was able to take three bins filled with toys for needy families in town. These families will “shop” through the toys and be able to take home what works for them.
An additional two full boxes of toys were delivered to Mud, Sweat & Tears Fitness Center in Verona, an authorized Toys for Tots drop off location. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.
The Essex Elves, co-founded by VHS graduate Anthony Huber, whose mission is to collaborate with local businesses to supply toys to underprivileged children in the area, were also able to benefit from community donations.
Our largest donations went to The Child Life Department at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. Donations to the hospital via Amazon Smile totaled over $4,600!
These toys will provide daily developmental, educational, and therapeutic activities for patients in teen rooms, playrooms, bedsides, emergency rooms, and Valerie Fund Center clinic. Donations will also provide gifts to a child hospitalized during the holidays or on their birthday, as an end of treatment celebration, or serve as an incentive for children struggling through treatments.
On behalf of our Student Council, we’d like to thank you for your continued support of a truly wonderful Verona giving tradition! We wish you and your family a healthy & joyous holiday and a wonderful new year!
Sincerely,
Angela Salisbury & Patricia Hemsley-Cartotto
Verona High School Student Council Advisors
