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Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island extends thanks for holiday donations

Wed, Jan 20th 2021 11:50 am

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