MAYVILLE – A Christmas in July celebration led to the donation of toys and other monetary donations Sunday during a Parrots of the Caribbean/Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band Show at the Floating Stage.
The Chautauqua Lake Pops by The Shore, Chautauqua Connections Children’s Coalition, Chautauqua Volunteer Fire Department, Mayville Volunteer Fire Department and the Chautauqua County Toys for Tots Program were among the organizations who participated.
“Both volunteer fire departments had toy events for us in the fall and winter of 2018 and when we had a shortage just before Christmas they stepped up and were a big reason we were able to get over the top,” said Patrick Smeraldo, Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Children’s Coalition, lead agency for the Chautauqua County Toys for Tots program.
Smeraldo, who is one of the three coordinators, along with Heather Brown and Terri Johnson of the Resource Center, stated, “It’s great when childhood agencies collaborate to benefit programming for our young ones, that’s what we do but when you can collaborate with tremendous partners like local volunteer fire departments and the Chautauqua Lake Pops by the Shore then you have the ingredients of a truly collaborative community”.
“Mr. Dan Dalpra and his staff of the Pops and Mary Briggs and the other volunteer firefighter men and women went above and beyond for Toys for Tots and we couldn’t be more appreciative!”
If you are interested in collaborating and holding a toy event for this years campaign, please message Chautauqua County Toys for Tos at:
https://www.facebook.com/Chautauqua-County-New-York-Toys-for-Tots-2019-403899463065599/
or email Patrick at Smeraldo@gmail.com
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