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Moms, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and a couple educators were recognized during the Asbury Park Toy Drive Fourth Annual Mother’s Day Celebration.

Based on essays submitted by city students, the local fundraising group behind the Christmas toy distribution had some special gifts for those who were the subject of 30 essays.

There were no first, second, or third place winners. Instead, the students who submitted essays and their families were treated to a four-course meal Thursday, courtesy of Jimmy’s Italian on Asbury Avenue. Gift bags filled with a bit of extra pampering were distributed those who were the subject of the essays, and for their hard work, the students received playful buckets filled with age appropriate toys.

Among the essay excerpts Breech read was:

“My mom treats people’s things like her own. My mom treats people how she wants to be treated.”

“My mama is the craziest person in the world. She gives the best bear hugs and loads of kisses, and sometimes just to make us laugh.”

“You open my eye ever single day to the realities of life and you help me to understand the world.”

“Nana you are the backbone of the family.”

“She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. No, she doesn’t wear capes. She can’t fly or see through walls. No, she can’t lift two tons and is not made of silver or gold. She has something much better.”

“The most important people in my life are my two mothers. They may not be my biological mother but they raise me up.”

This year, the event included a Spirit of Giving Award – issued to those who unselfishly work behind the scenes to help the Asbury Park Toy Drive’s mission of supporting the city’s youth.

The inaugural accolade was given to Georgies – the birthplace of the Asbury Park Toy Drive,  Jimmy’s owner Diane Marrucca, The Stone Pony’s Caroline O’Toole, and Pepsico’s Roseann Isasi [shown above].

Founded in 1999 in collaboration with Georgies owners, the Asbury Park Toy Drive has grown into a year-round fundraising entity working in support of the city’s children.

“The toy drive started 17 years ago to help out families at Christmas time,” co-founder Connie Breech said. “It all started with the little bar at the corner of Fifth and Steiner called Georgies. It was a vision of two recently retired educators to open up a neighborhood bar. They wanted to do something special so they had a small toy drive. They gathered a couple hundred toys to give out to the kids in the area.”

A year later the endeavor grew by leaps and bounds and has continued to do so.

Today, aside from the annual Christmas Toy Drive, the group administers a Mother’s and Father’s Day essay contest, Easter basket distribution, back to school Backpack Drive, annual trip to the Liberty Games in New York City, and several other events. They not only distribute toys and clothing but are an intricate part of meeting the needs of over 500 families.

The team behind the year-round fundraising initiatives are Breech, Beth Foderaro, Barbara Lesinski, Nancy ‘Mickey’ Carter and Corey Lowell.

For more about the Asbury Park Toy Drive, visit their website and Facebook page.

[In feature photo, cake donated by Confections of a Rock$tar Bakery]

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