To the Editor:
The Community Cancer Support Group would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who came together to make our toy and gift drive a success. For bringing the true spirit of the holidays to these children and their families we thank Tom Coughlin and the entire staff of BCB Community Bank. We are grateful for your continued support. To the guys who are the foundation of this drive Rocco Paolino, John McGovern, Ed Rutkowski, Buddy Klimkowski and Phil Higgins, thank you for all of your hard work. To Damion Andrisano my Santa and our elf Barbara Andrisano thank you for your time and compassion. To Mike Elia, Joe Era and Joe Lynch your driving skills and help are deeply appreciated. To my two knitters, Florence Hojnowski and Mickey Orlandini thank you for the beautiful blankets for our infants and toddlers.
For their most generous donations we thank Ernie & Ken Poesl, Maryellen Quinn, Penny Bardet, Diane Turetsky, Arnold Valentino & friends, Barbara Kubert and Pat Radomski. Thank you to Marybeth Grant and MaryAnn Wolenski for planning a night of music and toys at the Big Apple for us and to owners Vinnie and Toni Bottino. We thank Karalynn Brancatella who also played at the Venice and collected a great variety of gifts for our teens and to owners Debbie & Paul. 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 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, Albina Piazza, Camille Squillante, Linda Lojewski, Jonathan Ramos, Sara & Hanna Wilson and Meagan & Alexandra Duran.
Special thanks go 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, and Provident Bank, Wells Fargo, and Chase, Thank you! Thanks go out to Barbara DeBenedictis and the Peer Group of School #14, Cindy De-Russo of Tropical Tanning and Stanley Wojciechowski of Chances, for the wonderful collection of beautiful gifts for us. To our anonymous donor from Garden State Community Bank who lives on Avenue E, we were truly humbled by your generous donation of gifts. To TJ Johnston and Tyrone Simms who coordinates the adult party and helpers Caleigh Higgins and Austin. Thank you to City Hall and The Public Library for their collection also. To Maria Doria for collecting gifts for our adult party thank you. To Allison Miller and the staff at Bayonne Medical Center thank you. To everyone who saw our need and made a donation, thank you!
From the families and staff at Hackensack University Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University 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 kindness and generosity and wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
BARBARA HOJNOWSKI
Community Cancer Support Group