The Cranford Jaycees, a volunteer civic organization focused on helping the local community, today announced it was able to donate nearly 200 toys to needy children through several local holiday toy drive charities.

Recipients of the collected toys include:
- Holy Redeemer Homecare Outreach
- Goryeb Children's Center at Overlook Hospital
- Toys for Tots

The Cranford Santa Toy Delivery program is an annual event held in the town.  As in years past, parents provide the Jaycees a toy they would like delivered to their home by Santa Claus, with an additional one that is to be donated to a local toy drive or charity.

This year a three-day collection period occurred in early December at the Cranford firehouse.  Then on the evenings of Thursday and Friday, December 15 and 16, the Jaycee volunteers dressed as Santa Claus, and with official escorts by members of the Cranford Police and Fire Department, they were able to visit nearly 100 homes in town.

The Jaycees offered to sponsor the 2011 program as a service to the Cranford Police Department, who had been doing it for 11 years.  In August their headquarters was severely impacted by Hurricane Irene, and given their subsequent dislocation, they were not able to give it their full attention.

According to Jeff Sterling, President of the Cranford Jaycees, upon learning of the situation, worked with the
Cranford Police Department to coordinate the program this year.  “The toy drive has been a part of the holiday
celebration in Cranford for many years, so we wanted to keep this wonderful and worthwhile tradition going,” he said.  “Hurricane Irene already impacted so many people’s lives that we did not want yet another disruption, especially since the town has come so far since then.”

It remains to be seen who will coordinate the 2012 drive. Jeff indicated, however, that even if the Jaycees were only able to do it this year, “It was fun to play Santa for a few days.”