Ok, let’s wrap this up!  (Although it never ends does it?  There’s still so many in need so please get out there and lend a hand where and when you can).

Two weeks ago we held our 4th annual toy drive (Tailgating For Toys) after barreling  through so many hurdles in our way including losing our regular location.  After a couple more roadblocks we finally found our spot at Walmart in Whitinsville… thanks Walmart!  A storm on the first day could have put a damper on the weekend but we just added a day to the collection.  And then there’s 2020 being all 2020-y… but we kept it safe and clean for those who participated.  But we pressed on and delivered our yearly promise to Toys for Kids and Teens.

Now, before this starts to sound like a self-serving pat on the back, let me stress that this would not have happened without YOU.  All the praise and pride is directed to you, our partners and friends in our local community.  As a comparison, last year we raised about $6,000 from Shopping Spree Sponsors.  This year we collected an unbelievable $16,000 dollars from people who saw the need for charity this year more than any other.  That bought us a lot of toys and kept us very busy with shopping sprees throughout the collection.  You can see the videos on our Facebook page.  In the end we were able to fill a 16’ Container on Wheels (COW) with over 6,000 toys!

During the week after the collection we continued to collect cash as we waited on a few more Shopping Spree checks. Then we learned that our local Catholic Charities chapter was in desperate need of toys after their regular connection failed to come through for them.  So with about $2000 in hand we finished our Shopping Sprees and donated the remainder of our collection to the organization.  Holiday shopping tip… $1,100 goes a long way at Five and Under!

There are so many people to thank this year.  Many new friends stepping up, many friends who have been there from the start.   We love you and thank you all for your generosity and kindness.   I’m going to do my best to hit everyone here.  Best of luck to me!

Thank You To Our Shopping Spree Sponsors

Tim Rice Photo

Old Time Auto Sales

Milford TV

Masters Touch

Milford Hardwood

Depot Street

Ray’s Automotive

The Bouchard Family

J Gordon Plumbing and Heating

Andrea Larson Ellsworth – RE/MAX Executive Realty

Target

Family Table and Garden Pizza

D.R. Roof

Terri’s Treasures

Chelsee O’Meara – LuLaRoe

Anonymous

Jeff and Lynn Scornavacca

Lioce Properties

Dance Works Academy

Quit N Time Liquors

New England Pellet Stove Services

TC Scoops

The Barron Family

Milford Masons

Wolf Law Office

OunceIT

The Donovan Family

Friends of Madden Ave in Milford

OnTo Mortgage

State Representative Mike Soter

Dawn Bailey

Blue Anchor Advertising

The Cozy Nook

The Latourneau/White Family

The Kearnan Family

The Augers Family

Card Connect Boston

Milford Tire

Flood Fire Pro

Ichiego Ichie

Anonymous

Simons Furniture

Daddario Hardware

Mark Freeman

Greenwood Landscape

The Morrissiey Family

Mass Armament

The Purple Peacock

Donna & Steve Spector, Suburban Real Living Real Estate

Bryan Brown, Guaranteed Rate

Atwell-Mannix RE/MAX Team, Dympna Atwell and Aimee Mannix

The Law Offices of Irfan Nasrullah

Milford Youth Football and Cheer Board of Directors

Hopkintion Mom’s Group

ConnectED & Inspired

Webster First Federal Credit Union

Arcadian Farms

Fisher Insurance Agency

Additional donations

Deborah Newbill

Carrie Cilley

Kelley McCauley

Marquel Frink

Nicole Rosa

Sara Pellegrini

Gay Perkoski

Michele Gould

Maureen Carcione

Viv Marchand

Christine Seaver

Rubber Chicken Comics

Debbie and Steve Frohbeiter

Special Thank You!

Walmart in Whitinsville

Gallo Moving and Storage

Signs Plus

Fairmount Fruit Farm

Toys for Kids and Teens

Catholic Charities

The entire MyFM staff and family members

And all who donated toys during the drive!