The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department is a longtime supporter of the Toys for Joy initiative.

For the sixth year in a row, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department will donate both personnel and financial support to help make the Toys for Joy Christmas campaign a success.

Since partnering with the Salvation Army-sponsored drive, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office employees have donated countless hours to help with the campaign, now in its 102nd year of bringing toys, books and holiday joy to hundreds of families and thousands of children in need throughout Hampden County. Hampshire and Franklin.

For five to seven days each holiday season, HCSO employees are at the Salvation Army’s Pearl Street facility moving and organizing thousands of toys and helping distribute them to families in need.

Santa’s elves would be proud.

“As we enter the sixth year of our partnership with Toy for Joy, we are more excited than ever to roll up our sleeves and support this incredible effort,” said Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi.

“Our team is committed to ensuring these toys reach the families who need them most, bringing joy to children throughout our community. There is no better way to celebrate the season than to help others celebrate it,” Cocchi said.

Support from individual volunteers and groups allows the campaign to achieve what any campaign worth its salt strives to achieve. Yes, this creates a more effective campaign, but it also helps keep costs down so that generous, holiday-focused donations go to their intended destination—gifts that put smiles on the faces of eligible children under 16 and their families.

Without this support, administrative or labor costs would eat into this intended destination. Instead, Toy for Joy’s corporate, business and individual donors know their donations are going straight to the right place.

No donation is too big or too small. Proceeds go directly to the cause for which they were intended. This event is sponsored by The Salvation Army and is promoted and advertised

Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino.

With the campaign goal set at $150,000, the giving season has already begun and will continue until Christmas Eve, December 24th. All donations will be acknowledged and published in The Republican and Reminder Publications. The first published list is below.

The coupon published with the Toy for Joy stories can be used to mail the story to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103.

Donors can also donate online at https://give.salvationarmy.org/give/212002/#!/donation/checkout.

Recipients can be families with children under 16 years of age, but pre-registration is required.

Registration and pickup information can be found at the registration link https://www.salvationarmyma.org/toyforjoy.

Distribution will take place at Salvation Army locations in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield. Pickup details vary by location and are available for each site here.

Each child will receive toys, games and books. Applicants will receive a confirmation email indicating the date and time of the toy giveaway.

To receive, they must bring email confirmation and photo ID. Receipt times will be indicated in the Order Summary section.

Gifts will be distributed in mid-December. For more information, call 733-1518.

Contributions to the Toy for Joy fund:

Please keep all our children safe and happy. From Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, $200.

Solnechnaya, 50

Merry Christmas Aspen and Harry, $50.

Peace and blessings to all from Bill and Rita, $100.

In memory of Hazel and Athos Rossi and their children Peter, Nola, Susan and Tina, $20.

Merry Christmas from Dan and Bev, $25.

In loving memory of my parents Albert and Lucy Distefano, beloved family, $20.

In memory of Bob who loved Christmas, $20.

In memory of Jill Stefanik, $10.

Merry Christmas, peace and love, Nora, $25.

In memory of Cheryl Ann Levy, $25.

Fond memories of Ruth and Bud Pederzoli from their grateful daughter, $25.

Lovingly remembering the Dunn and Moran families, especially John and Dan, $25.

William, $250

Kenn and Kathy Sinclair, $100.

Sarah K. Mitchell, $350.

$1,295 RECEIVED

ONLY TODAY $1295

STILL NEEDED $148,705