The Morristown nonprofit Our Youth Their Future Inc. was established eight years ago in response to a young person’s suicide.
“We just want to try to give back to kids, and let them know we care,” co-founder Toshiba Foster explained this week.
Area organizations came together in a big way last weekend to show how much they care. Some 183 disadvantaged children received toys, decorated gingerbread houses, and enjoyed a magic show by Great Scott. Ten bicycles were raffled. Santa even took time out from his busy schedule to make an appearance.
“It was record-breaking for us,” Foster, Morristown’s council president, said of the turnout at town hall.
Slideshow photos by Bill Lescohier. Click / hover over image for captions:
Santa 1
Gifts including Bikes
Shona & Jahsire
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Maureen Denman & Toshiba
Essence, Madona, Caiden & Aazai
Tim & Mary
Bike Winners
Trisha, Maria, Dean & Dorothy
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"Volunteer" Kyle
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She thanked Mayor Tim Dougherty and First Lady Mary Dougherty for joining the festivities.
Foster’s thank you list was long. It takes a village to throw a party this big, after all.
The Marine Toys for Tots program donated toys. Nick Prizzi, Alex Cadena and Jesus Castesno of the Morristown Fire Department picked up the gifts and Rich and Joel of the town public works department arranged the transportation, Foster said. Volunteers performed the wrapping.
Gingerbread house supplies came from the Morristown Partnership. Food was donated by the Horseshoe Tavern, Guerriero’s Ristorante and Nonna’s Pizza. Hector Cardona brought empanadas, Foster said.
Bethsaida Chapter #7 and Tyrian Lodge #31 provided volunteers, and Tyrian Lodge donated the bicycles.
Foster also thanked Donald Underhill, Maureen Denman, Greg Deal of the Morristown Parking Authority, Wayne Cresta, Dave Martin and deejay Peter Jorge, and youth volunteers Khyra and Khyli Smith.
Our Youth Their Future members came through, as always, Foster said, adding special thanks to Dominick “Santa” Sandelli and his elves from the Morristown Ambulance Squad.
And we thank MorristownGreen.com correspondent Bill Lescohier for photographing the fun.
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