Valley hospital receives toy donation
MONONGAHELA – Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Toys for Tots drive got an added boost this year as members of the Monessen/Rostraver Rotary Club and Spring Grove Condo Clubhouse committee donated dozens of dolls, trucks, cars, games, puzzles, stuffed animals and electronic devices.
Gerald Stasicha, president of the Monessen/Rostraver Rotary, said the Spring Grove Condo Clubhouse committee held its annual holiday bingo and asked every player to donate a new toy.
“Since my wife and I live in those Rostraver Township condos, we were approached by the clubhouse committee to see if we knew of an organization where the toys could be donated,” he said.
“When I asked the members of my Rotary if they had a recommendation for the toys, without hesitation, Corinne Laboon, who is vice president of marketing at Monongahela Valley Hospital, suggested the items be donated to the hospital’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. Some of our fellow Rotarians also purchased toys to donate to the hospital’s campaign.”
When Stasicha arrived at the hospital with the trunk of his car packed with toys, John Bogdan, behavioral health nurse manager at MVH, and Doug Prentice, storeroom manger, helped him unload the toys and pack them in Toys for Tots boxes.
Bogdan and Prentice have championed the hospital’s Toys for Tots drive for more than 20 years.
“Even though everyone has so many other requests for donations at this time of year, our staff and volunteers continually support MVH’s Toys for Tots campaign,” Prentice said.
“Our goal is to help ensure that the Mon Valley Leathernecks, a group of former Marines who do the legwork for the local Toys for Tots program, have enough toys for every child in the Mon Valley who reaches out for a toy.
There’s still time for members of the community to donate toys at the hospital. New, unwrapped toy can be dropped off in the hospital’s gift shop.
Checks also are welcome. They should be made payable to “Toys for Tots” and mailed to: Wally Fronzaglio, 204 Brokaw Ave., Donora, PA 15033.