Thursday, December 24, 2009

Listen to Bob Flaherty read this year's "Toy Fund in verse" (if you lack a plug-in to hear the audio, right-click here to download it as an mp3 file)

'Tis the night before Christmas; the presents are in
Tomorrow the day of unwrapping begins.
Beneath every tree, a sparkling new gift
Thanks to the Toy Fund of Sidney F. Smith.

We can only guess here what each child will receive
Christmas is like that - you gotta believe.
Toy Fund donators believe every Christmas,
While thinking of loved ones no longer with us.

So here are a few of the hundreds we got
And here are the presents their dough mighta bought:

Maybe Sue gets a wagon, perfect for hitchin'
All from the staff at JFK's kitchen.
Maybe a Sox shirt of Papi or Pesky
In memory of Jodgu from all the Majewskis

For Judy, perhaps, an autographed ball?
As Granny and Grampy Podmayer's recalled
Maybe skates to be worn at Amherst's Orr Rink
From money sent in by Johanna Fink.

Timmy will play in the tub with his sub,
Owing to the Southampton Woman's fine club
Little Art gets a robot, including all parts
Thanks to the moolah from Frances C. Smart

Santa is one thing, but some gifts cost money
"Here ya go," say Smith's OLDER Quad Dust Bunnies.
The Bertrands of Hadley say no child should go needy
As they remember two "elves," Toby and Dede.

Kids out of school will thumbs-up this vacation
Thanks, Brian Tabor of Forbes' Circulation.
Toys by the fistful in everyone's stocking
With thoughts of a mom, Doris D. Hawkins.

Mitchell gets mittens, his mom says, "Yay, Mitch!"
All from Nickie and Joe Pietraszkiewicz.
Maybe for Hannah a new toy piana
Thanks to the tenants at Joan Tobin Manor.

A new mitt for Ann, a new bat for Frankie
As Flemings pay homage to Dorothy Plankey.
The Guertins made sure there'll be Barbies and Kens
All the time thinking of Ronald and Ben.

Wilfredo gets bowling pins, maybe all 10
With cash from Northampton OB/GYN.
"Wow!" says Diana, "My squirt gun is nifty!"
Thanks to the Corliss' check for 250.

Some will get doggies, some will get catties
Some will get goldfish from Westhampton's Red Hatties.
"Holy Cow!" says a kid, then adds a "Hooray!"
Kudos to Wilfred and Nancy Demarais.

The Polonis family knows gifts will arrive
In memory of TJ, who would have been five.
Then in came five big ones in a big red bow
From the three friendly daughters of Dorothy Custeau

Carrie got airplanes, Mugsy got trains
Thanks to the Bohans of Blackberry Lane
There'll be iPods for C-Rod, puzzles for Hank
With 300 skins from Flo Savings Bank.

The employees there sent all that and more
And Paige wants an iPhone, tho' she just turned 4.
From all of Northampton came checks, cards and debits
Recalling the spirit of Patti Samolewicz.

Their name by itself says shades of Yuletide
As the Red Greenes of Leeds think of Villagers died.
The Laprades sent in dough and they don't want it back
As they pray for Carlos and Melissa, serving in Iraq.

But the one whose name comes up the most -
That Christmas Past and Present ghost -
Who does not sign nor make much fuss
The saint known as Anonymous.

So to all ye who gave, from the lives ye have blessed,
Merry Christmas to all, and may this be our best.

Today's donors

From the Fort River Lunch Ladies   $40

In loving memory of my parents, May and Ed Scanlan, from Mary   $50

Merry Christmas, from Agatha & Art Hill   $40

In memory of our deceased and injured veterans, Harry & Mae Waskiewicz   $25

In memory of Phil, Mollie, Jim Nolan, from Joe & Katy   $20

In memory of Bill, Antos, Blanche, Ronnie Gonski, from Joe & Katy   $20

In loving memory of Barbara Hagelstein who passed away this year. Missing you every day but especially during the holiday season. Love Eric, Sue, Jake and Michael   $100

In honor of loved ones, from the Taylor Family   $50

In memory of Evie's grandpa   $100

Merry Christmas, National Grid Employees, Leeds   $232

In honor of our three grandchildren, Elise, Matthew and Chris, who are the greatest gift of all! Love, Grandma Allie and Grandpa Bruce Kriviskey   $50

Thank you Blessed Mother, St. Jude and St. Anthony from A.L.M.B   $25

In honor of Susan Ebitz & the staff of Jackson Street School with thanks from Eli Christpher & family   $25

In honor of the faculty & staff at NHS with thanks from Ben Christopher & family   $50

Anonymous   $50

From Matthew Harwoodstone   $20

We worked very hard to earn this money. We hope that this money will make some children as happy as we are. Love, Mrs. Korpita's 2nd grade James School, Williamsburg   $103.54

To a child in need from two who don't   $45

From Victoria Huff   $50

In memory of Frank Netto, who was a wonderful husband and father. We miss you and love you always and forever, from Mary & our six kids   $100

Gertie's Remembrance   $102

In loving memory of our grandfather Joseph Camposeo, from Chris & Andy   $25

Anonymous   $100

In loving memory of our son Michael David Adams, from Mom and Dad   $50

From David & Mary Hankowski   $1,000

Merry Christmas, from Pelham's Lions Club   $100

In the memory of the deceased members of the Mascis, Pizzano, Cmar, Reichenheim, Ennis & Honey families, in the spirit of Christmas   $450

From Kristen Luschen   $100

From Joann & Frank Judice   $100

In memory of Edward Peter, from Ted Dziok   $25

In honor of our sweet granddaughters: Maya, Linden & Alexa, from Oompa & Grammie Fletcher-Howell   $50

In memory of Hilary Westgate, Love Donnie, Megan, DJ, Mason & Alex, from Don Willard   $50

In memory of my grandfather and friend Charles Dupuis, from Paul Carriveau   $30

In memory of Myron and Dorothy Rhoades and Eleanor Caldwell, from the Rhoades Family, Fortier Family and Carriveau Family   $450

In memory of our beloved grandparents and dads who have passed away. We love you and miss you so much. From Gary and Kathy Bergeron   $50

In loving memory of Mikey Gangne, we miss you very much. You will forever be in our hearts! Love, Mike, Tracy, Kristy and Thomas   $30

In honor of Mrs. Moriarty at Bridge Street School, from Robert Kirvin   $20

In honor of Mrs. Battey at Bridge Street School, from Sophia Kirvin   $20

In honor of Mrs. Hershkowitz at Bridge Street School, from Robert and Sophia Kirvin   $20

From Lynn & Jean Miller   $250

Anonymous   $25

For Michael & Kimberly, Love R&B   $50

For Patrick, Love Moms   $50

In memory of Timothy DeRose ... He loved all children, from Dorothy DeRose   $25

Happy Holidays to our family and friends, and in special memory of Amy Doppman, Jeanne, James and Brandon Reinle   $25

In loving memory of Edmund, Zella and Pearl, Dearly Missed every day, from Edmund M. Keyes II   $50

In memory of Nana Mary & Grampa Carl, Nana Kate & Grampa Frank and Uncle Jimmy   $75

In loving memory of our parents, who would have loved their grandson Liam, from Rita and Brien Anderson   $25

In honor of the staff and students of Pelham School   $100

In gratitude for our grandchildren, D.J., Brad, Katie, Madeline, Ali & Sam   $25

Anonymous   $10

In honor and memory of loved ones in the Haydenville Congregational Church, given by the HCC Ladies Aid Society   $200

We love you Grampy Shea and Grampy Crowther! We miss you very much! From Blake, Shea and Ryan   $100

From Molly, Meg and the chickens   $100

In loving memory of "Meme," who never had a childhood, from Laura Battles   $50

In loving memory of "Honey," who was just a big kid himself, Laura Battles   $50

Northampton Radiologic Assoc.    $500

Anonymous   $25

In loving memory of Robert W. & Mary Doyle, Love your daughters Monica, Lynch & Laureen Sienkiewicz   $20

In loving memory of William E. & Rosemary Lynch Jr., from your children Billy, Rosemary, Wayne, Jack & Deborah   $20

In memory of the Kennedys & Raus deceased and in honor of Michael J. Kennedy, a new Marine, from Puppa Rau   $20

Given in memory of loved ones we miss every day. Our Dad (Tom Korza) who made our Christmases the best. Our Meme Korza, Todd Vescovi and our first without Grandma Widelo, with love, Shawn & Kim Korza   $60

Merry Christmas from Dave & Carole   $40

We are donating money for children who do not have toys. We are happy to give you money to buy toys. This money is coming from our allowance. I hope some children will be happy, Isabel and Olivila Fortier   $4

From Red Rock Cruisers   $50

Wishing everybody a happy holidays, from SB & PC   $100

In loving memory of Frank Labato Sr., his wife, Ruth Labato, and their son, Frank Labato Jr., from Judy and Joe Gerlip, Pat and Jerry Sokop, Rita Labato and all of their families who miss them at Christmas   $30

In memory of Robert K. Finn, from the Gerlip Family   $20

In loving memory of Frank A. Gerlip from Joe & Judy Gerlip and family, Merry Christmas   $20

In loving memory of Nana & Baci, we miss you. Love Hunter & Skylar   $50

Rick Baldwin and Chris DeLilsle, two wonderful young men who left us all too soon. In their memory we give to the children, from Valerie, Barbara, and Mike   $100

From Emily Todd and Liam Harte   $25

In memory of Clink Johnson and in honor of Dot Johnson, from Laurel Gardner and family   $25

For everybody who is reading this - Merry Christmas, from Thomas Harte   $10

In memory of Ralph Taylor and Roger & Kathy Damon with love from Diana, Mike, Rileigh & Colby   $55

In thanks and appreciation for the Ct. River "River Lights" a beacon of hope and light coming from the darkness   $25

Previous Total   $58,217.10

Today's Total   $6,351.54

Year-To-Date Total   $64,568.64

CORRECTION: A donation listed earlier this week was misattributed to Gayle Quesnel as an individual. The toy fund received $450 from the Cooley Dickinson Hospital information systems department.