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Guest Editorial
The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island thanks the hundreds of individuals and organizations who contributed to our successful 2020 holiday distribution.
Because of pandemic restrictions, this year’s distribution was primarily Tops gift cards to allow the 51 families helped to safely purchase their own food. Selected holiday food and other gifts were included and where appropriate, Target gift cards for their children.
The Neighbors Foundation is a small, all-volunteer organization; we don’t do this ourselves; we depend on the community to recognize the need around us, and to respond generously. Even in pleasant, suburban Grand Island, there are needs, and you have helped. Thanks to all of you!
Our thanks to these people and organizations who donated financially, or with food, other gifts, to our “Share Your Happiness” fund drive, many on internet, in 2020 holiday season:
Chris Affuso
Toni & Angeolina Amantia
GI Post 1346 American Legion
Dave Anderson
Anonymous donor at Town Hall
Several anonymous donors
Carl & Bonita Antholzner Jr.
Leann Arida
Chris Aronica
Phyllis Baker
Jared and Barbara Barlow
Paul & Judith Bassette
Peggy Bauman
Norm & Sue Bauman
Matt & Amia Bauman
Paul & Judith Bauman
In memory of Bud Figler by Marlowe & Deborah Beis
Eric & Susan Berger
Jennifer Preyer & Eric Berger Insurance Services
Kennedy & Jackson Bergman
Bible Fellowship Center
Bible Presbyterian Church
Raymond Billica
Blackberry's Bar & Grill
Linda Braddell
Bridgeview Garden Club
Jean Brighton
Marsha & James Bruno
Andrew & Mary Elizabeth Calderone
Susan Canavan
Jamie Card
Salvatore Cardullo
David & Jane Chervinsky
Sam Clarke
Dave & Karen Conboy
Charity fund at Veronica Connor Middle School
Marlene Coughlin
June Crawford
Rosemary Culbert
Joe & Barbara Cushner
Denny & Ann Dahl
Junior DECA at Grand Island schools
John and Christine Decker
Alice Demmin
Diane Doane
Barbara Donnelly
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Drabik
Stan & Bay Ellson
Thomas Elmer
Anne Fahning
David & Diane Faix
Flower a Day Florists
Kathleen Franz
Jay & Barbara Fritchey
Fuccillo Automotive Group
Payroll contributions by GI school employees
John & Mary Jane Gaffick
Diane Garey
Valerie Gaydosh
Robert & Joanne Gesl
John Gibney
In honor of Connie & Rob Fitzpatrick by Renee & Dan Gietz
Joseph & Cynthia Gioia
William Glor
David Goris
Grand Island Dance Center
Ladies Auxiliary of Grand Island Fire Company
Employees at Grand Island Highway Department
Staff & teachers at Grand Island schools & district office
Employees at Grand Island Town Hall
James Greer
Michael Hachee (Rose Liquor Store)
Howard Hanna Real Estate
Fran Havens
Nancy Hayes
Janice Hecko
Mike & Rose Heigel
Lee & Mary Herbst
To honor Christine Cassert's birthday by Mary Herbst
Hunt Real Estate ERA
Mr. & Mrs. John Hurld
Staff celebrating Casual Days at Huth Road Elementary School
Staff & parents using Island Kids Child Care Center
Karolyn Ivancie
Julie E. Jelonek
Joanne Johnson
Nate' Juntunen
Tamara Kaczmarowski
Lynn Kahn
Laurie Kalman
Richard Karnath
Alison Kearney
Rev. Earle & Paula King
Peter and Beverly Kusczak
Nancy & Chuck LaChiusa
Christine Learman, CPA, PC
Diane Lee
Grand Island Lions Club
Michael Lockett
Kevin LoVullo
Tom & Nancy Luescher
Betty Marinell
Robert & Elaine Marinucci
Thomas Mascellino
Mark McDonough
Aimee McKnighRosanna McKee
Mary McLaughlin
Daniel McMahon
Laurence McPhail
James Mesmer
Jay & JoAnn Mileham
In memory of Joyce Mongan by Michael Mongan Jr.
Joseph Morganti
Sara Morris
Arthur & Nancy Morth
Traci Certo Murphy
Jim & Eileen Niland Jr.
Roxanne Norman
Elaine & Mike O'Neil
Angelo & Rosalie Palamuso
Judy & John Pedlow
Frank & Coleen Perno
Joan Petrovski
Piatek Insurance, State Farm
William Pioli
Pier Propeller
Gary Pritchard
David Raczka
Mike & Donnette Rayhill in memory of Mike Andres
Melissa Rayhill in memory of Mike Andres
Mr. & Mrs. Rhodes
Brooks Rimes
River Lea Quilters
Jodi Robinson
Gary & Carol Roesch
Ernest Roger
Dorothy Rowswell
In memory of parents (Larry, founder of Neighbors Foundation & Shirley) by Lawrence Runions
Tom & Peggy Rusert
Suzanne Ryan
Tamara Salczynski
Dana Santospirito
Marilyn Scozzaro
Richard Seibert
Kathleen Kapus Shackelford
Debbie Sharon
Tom Sheehan
Rob and Pam Shoemaker
Terrie Sledziewski
Scott Henderson & SMH Productions
Parishioners at St. Martin's Episcopal Church
Christmas show of Joseph & Mary by St. Martin's Episcopal Church
Holy Name Society at St. Stephen R.C. Church
Parishioners of St Stephen R.C. Church
Ron Stanke
Brendan Staub
Paul Steck
Jeffrey Stravino
Pamela & Joseph Suszczynski
Tom & Marie Sutton
Eajazul & Margaret Syed
Target stores – Niagara Falls
Faye Teluk
Lenore Tetkowski
Employee charity fund at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Eric Thomsen
Thompson Farms
Mark & Dianne Tiede
Emily Tippett
L A Titran
Bernadine Toeliner
Grand Island Tops Friendly Market
In loving memory of Eziquel Ruiz by Michele Tornabene
WNY Metro Town Center Realty
Grand Island donors to United Way of Buffalo & Erie County
Adele Upton
VFW Post 9249
Auxiliary at VFW Post 9249
Viking Diner (Christopher Polizi)
Greg & Paulette Voyzey
Dennis & Debbie Walsh
Cheryl Wasson
Thomas Wikowski
Joseph R Wild CPA
John & Ann Williams
William Wilson
Women of the Moose
Jane Wynne
Although there was no formal food collection during 2020 holiday because of pandemic restrictions, we continue to appreciate help that students and advisers from the high school, middle school DECA and Interact groups have given the foundation. This year, hard workers from the foundation and community combined to sort and prepare a major amount of Tops, Target cards and other gifts, plus some food, for our 2020 holiday distribution:
Beth Boron
Linda Clark
Dave & Karen Conboy
David Conboy
Denny & Ann Dahl
Marlene Deuble
Sara Eaton
Diane Garey
Valerie Gaydosh
Rachel Gaydosh & Cole Remmes
Rebekah Gaydosh & Will Varnell
Lynn & Bob Henschel
Hank Kammerer
Dave Khreis
Arlene Larry
Kathy Lechner
Debbie Moriarty
Angelo Palamuso
Benjamin Shaw
Dr. Thomas Sheehan
Larry & Mary Slovick
Griffin Stone
Amanda Thompson
Lise & Courtenay Watt