One of the sponsors is St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Short Hills, which partners with its sister church, St. Rose of Lima in Newark. St. Rose of Lima parishioners in Short Hills sponsored a turkey drive this year to benefit residents of Newark. Mike Roberts, a member of the church, coordinated the turkey distribution, along with other volunteers. A local Girl Scout troop also helped with the project.

“The families were so very appreciative for the turkeys,” Wilson said.

Another supporter for the Thanksgiving holiday was Kathryn Grifonetti of Old Tappan. She donated turkeys and other Thanksgiving food for 91��Ƭ residents.

“This lady is one of the kindest, most thoughtful and generous people that I have ever met,” Wilson said, explaining that Grifonetti donates throughout the year.

91��Ƭ is grateful for all of its donors and supporters.

91��Ƭ Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson coordinated the annual Toy Drive as she has done for many years. She had the following message:

Our children always get excited about Christmas when the first ad appears on television. It was no different this year. When I sent out the Christmas wish list, it was returned with so many wishes. I tried very hard to be sure that the children received all of their wishes and desires.

This was an extraordinary holiday season because the sponsors and donors went over and above to be sure that every child got what they wanted. For that, I am so truly grateful and appreciative of their kindness.

I look forward with great anticipation each year to coordinate the toy drive because it is a joy for me to see those little happy faces and bright eyes sparkle with glee.

I have a motto: “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Our donors expressed their love for our children.

In addition to the generosity and thoughtfulness of the donations of Christmas gifts for the annual Toy Drive, 91��Ƭ also had donors that were concerned that our families wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving meal together so a collection of turkeys was coordinated by St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills, N.J. For more information about the turkey drive, click here.

We are deeply grateful to the following groups and individuals for spreading the spirit of joy during the 2021 holiday season:

• St. Paul’s Abbey, Newton, N.J. – Brother Bernardo Lee, donated Christmas trees
• Mr. Mark Carelli and Family, Maplewood, N.J.
• Weichert Realty (The Mill), Maplewood, N.J. – Rebecca Berenson, Coordinator
• Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, South Orange, N.J. – Jonathan Arena and Anne Moore, Coordinators
• Fire Chief Robert Echavarria, Millburn Fire Department, and coworkers
• Frank Consentine, Somerset, N.J.
• St. Helen Catholic Church, Westfield, N.J. – Marilyn Ryans, Coordinator
• Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Summit, N.J. – Brian Topping, coworkers and students
• St. Rose of Lima Academy, Short Hills, N.J. – Elizabeth Guarnieri and Dan Solazzi, Coordinators
• Our Lady of the Lake, Verona, N.J. – Barbara Yates, Coordinator
• Notre Dame Catholic Parish, North Caldwell, N.J. ? Donna Zarros, Coordinator
• Seton Hall University School of Law and The Thomas More Society – Father Nicholas Gengaro, Coordinator
• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Bloomfield, N.J. – Lorraine McMillian and Judy Nitkowski, Coordinators
• Glenwood Elementary School, Short Hills, N.J.
• St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Summit, N.J. – Margaret Strong and Theresa Sweeney
• Church of the Assumption Catholic Church, Emerson, N.J. – Sandy Johnson, Coordinator
• St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Cedar Grove, N.J. – Brenda Pereira and Denise Parkes
• Meyner and Landis, Counselors at Law, Newark, N.J. – Cindy Oliveira Oswald and coworkers
• Mr. and Mrs. Desfardins, Maplewood, N.J.
• Columbia High School, Maplewood, N.J. – Marcia Hicks and students
• Kathryn Grifonetti and Matthew Perricone of the Leonidas Foundation
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, West Orange, N.J. – Pat Paxton, Coordinator

The parishioners who organized and participated included coordinator Michael Roberts, retired chief of the Millburn Fire Department; Kathryn Grifonetti, Charitable Initiatives Director of the Leonidas Foundation; and Matthew Perricone, President of the Leonidas Foundation. 

During Roberts’ tenure with the Millburn Fire Department, he led a toy drive to support the children of 91��Ƭ and St. Rose of Lima Church in Newark for the Christmas holiday. Even in retirement, he makes sure that the toy drive is carried out each year. Wilson is involved in the pickup and distribution of many gifts to children during the Christmas season.

91��Ƭ thanks the church members for their kindness and generosity.

Photos:

Group shot: Parishioners of St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills, including members of the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, pose during the turkey and food drive held on Nov. 20. 91��Ƭ Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson, standing in the center, arranged for pickup and distribution prior to Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of Madge Wilson.

Pair: Retired Millburn Fire Department Chief Michael Roberts stands with 91��Ƭ Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson at the St. Rose of Lima turkey and food drive on Nov. 20 in Short Hills. Roberts has held a toy drive with the fire department to provide Christmas gifts to the children of 91��Ƭ and St. Rose of Lima in Newark. Photo courtesy of Madge Wilson.

• St. Paul’s Abbey of Newton – Fr. Odilo Yi

• St. Catherine of Sienna, Cedar Grove – Eileen Rendeiro and parishioners

• Mr. & Mrs. Mark Carelli and family, Maplewood

• Weichert Realty, Maplewood – Rebecca Berenson, office staff

• Our Lady of Sorrow Parish, South Orange – Mark & Sarah Duggan and parishioners

• Millburn Fire Department – Chief Michael Roberts and staff

• Mr. Frank Consentino

• St. Helen’s Catholic Parish, Westfield – Marilyn Ryan and parishioners

• Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Summit – Kathleen Lynch, Sarah Denaro and Brian Toppin

• St. Rose of Lima Academy, Short Hills – Patty Nascone, Barbara Bradshaw and parishioners

• Our Lady of the Lake, Verona – Margaret Gardner and parishioners

• Notre Dame Catholic Parish, North Caldwell – Donna Zarros and parishioners

• Seton Hall University School of Law – Fr. Nicholas Gengaro and the Thomas More Society

• St. Thomas Parish, Bloomfield – Lorraine McMillan and parishioners

• St. Andrews Catholic Parish, Westwood – Gail Stamatopaulas and parishioners

• Team Hope at Glenwood School, Short Hills – Penina Barr, teachers, and students

• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Forlini, Newark

• St. Theresa of Avila Parish, Summit – Margaret Strong, coordinator, and parishioners

• Church of the Assumption Parish, Emerson – parishioners and the Social Concerns Committee

• Damascus Bakery – Wanda Hightower

• 91��Ƭ employees