To the Editor:
The Community Cancer Support Group would like to extend a sincere thank-you to everyone who came together to make our 10th toy and gift drive a success. This year was especially difficult for so many families because of the storm. Add to this stress one of your own children being diagnosed with a serious illness and your life and family can begin to feel overwhelmed. For bringing hope and light to these families, we thank Donald Mindiak, Tom Coughlin, and the entire staff of BCB Community Bank. We are humbled by your compassion and generosity. To the guys who are the foundation of this drive – Rocco Paolino, John McGovern, Ed Rutkowski, Buddy Klimkowski, Tom Berman, and Tony Lojewski – thank you for all of your hard work. To Damion Andrisan and Ed Rutkowski, our Santas, and my elf Jonathan Ramos, thank you for your time. To Mike Elia, Mike Zajack, and Rich Svercauski, your driving skills and help are greatly appreciated.
For their most generous donations, we thank Pat Russo, Ken Poesl, Ernie Poesl, Renee Poesl, Maryellen Quinn, Penny Bardet, Kaitlyn Donavan, and Lori Burkhard. Thank you to Marybeth Grant and MaryAnn Wolenski for planning a night of music and toys at the Big Apple for us. To Linda Klimkowski, president of the Community Cancer Support Group, none of this is possible without you and the hundreds of things that you do to ensure this is a success year after year. To Barbara Pizer and all of the ladies who made blankets and toys, thank you – they are beautiful and admired by everyone who receives one. To Neil Nelson and his staff of officers, thank you for your help and patience.
To the countless people who, at a day’s notice, came and wrapped and made packages as we received the lists and took time from their busy schedules, we especially thank Teresa and Lance Caposella, Cathy Adamkiewicz, Albina Piazza, Kristen Poesl, Camille Squallante, her daughter Jamie and her son’s girlfriend, Lilly Villamar, Linda Klimkowski, Paula Ambrosio, Penny Bardet, Vanessa Redondo and Jan Gorman.
Special thanks for out to all of the financial institutions and their staffs that, year after year, support and help us get what we need to the hospitals: Bank of America, Garden State Community Bank, Provident Bank, Wells-Fargo, Chase, and TD Bank. Thank you! To Barbara DeBenedictis and the PEER group of Nicholas Oresko School, Dr. Beebe, and Stanley Wojciechowski of Chances, for the wonderful collection of beautiful gifts for us, thank you! To TJ Johnston and Tyrone Simms, who coordinates the adult party and City Hall and Public Library collection, thank you. To Maria Doria for collecting the gifts for the adults, thank you. To Allison Miller and the staff at Bayonne Medical Center, thank you for your generous donations. To Shop-Rite, you truly are a community business. To everyone who saw our need and made a donation, thank you!
From the families and staffs at Hackensack University Medical Center, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Robert-Wood Johnson University Hospital, Overlook Hospital, St. Joseph’s Children Hospital, and St. Peter’s University Hospital, as well as the children who needed to use the family clinic, emergency room and take part of the special programs in our own city, we thank you all for your acts of love and kindness and wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
BARBARA HOJNOWSKI
Community Cancer Support Group