Annual 'Stuff the Stocking' school campaign collects 7,500 toys for children

Kyle Morel, Newton New Jersey Herald
·2 min read

More than 2,000 North Jersey children in need will have a happier holiday season thanks to local students who participated in the annual Stuff the Stocking competition.

A record 45 schools in Sussex and Warren counties collected 7,500 new, unwrapped toys in this year's initiative, which benefits the Project Self-Sufficiency Season of Hope Toy Drive. The items were donated to the PSS toy shop for parents to select and will be given to more than 2,200 children and teens in the area.

Reverend Brown Elementary School in Sparta won the contest for the second year in a row with more than 1,300 toys collected. Hardyston Middle School and Pope John Middle School in Sparta finished in second and third place, respectively, and 19 other schools collected at least 100 toys.

Students from Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School show off the Stuff the Stocking trophy after collecting more than 1,300 toys for the 2023 Season of Hope Toy Drive organized by Project Self-Sufficiency.
Students from Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School show off the Stuff the Stocking trophy after collecting more than 1,300 toys for the 2023 Season of Hope Toy Drive organized by Project Self-Sufficiency.

"The holidays can be a challenging time for many families in our area and many are experiencing unprecedented economic stress," said PSS executive director Deborah Berry-Toon. "The overwhelming response by these students demonstrates to the families served by Season of Hope Toy Shop that the community cares about them.

"Having children select toys for other children is a special way to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season," she said.

Stuff the Boat, Build-a-Bike

The contest signals the end of this year's Season of Hope, which began with a Nov. 3 kickoff event at the PSS headquarters in Newton. In the ensuing weeks, a variety of local businesses and residents worked together to contribute to the drive.

Off Shore Marine employees Kevin Cecchini and Joe McGavin unload toys collected from the company's Stuff the Boat initiative to benefit the Project Self-Sufficiency Season of Hope Toy Drive.
Off Shore Marine employees Kevin Cecchini and Joe McGavin unload toys collected from the company's Stuff the Boat initiative to benefit the Project Self-Sufficiency Season of Hope Toy Drive.

Earlier this month, the Branchville-based Off Shore Marine collected a record number of toys and gift cards to donate to PSS as part of the 10th annual Stuff the Boat initiative. And last week, Selective Insurance employees assembled 52 children's bicycles for the cause during the company's 17th annual "Build-a-Bike" campaign.

For more information about the Season of Hope Toy Drive and the services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Annual 'Stuff the Stocking' drive collects 7,500 toys