Confetti ringing in the new year triggers fallen snow memories and an open sign perched near an elf’s workshop. It was seemingly tampered with as our Friends of Random Acts Coordinator Nicole Manzetti decided to share some presents with Hackensack’s Police Department toy drive.
Sleigh Ride to Nostalgia
During the holiday season, posters put up around the Hackensack, New Jersey, area asked for new, unwrapped toys for the youth. This is not a first-time sighting as it marks their 32nd year of the annual tradition. Among those who benefit are Tomorrows Children Hospital, Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, Valley Hospital Pediatric Center, and 508th Military Police.
Nicole combined a monetary donation from Random Acts and her own piggy bank funding to donate an impressive 65 toys! “This has been such a rough and downright terrible year for so many, and this little act of kindness that RA was able to help me with is going to make such a wonderful difference for so many families!” Nicole said.
She felt nostalgic as she strolled the store aisles with her family, looking for must-have items to donate. While some landed into the shopping cart, other toys gave a longing gaze, wishing Nicole, too, could play.
Hometown Kindness
A few days later, Nicole dropped off her donations at the Lodi Police Department. With a charitable laundry list of coat drives, blood drives, reading to kids, and more, Mobilio is a local kindness figure. “Lt. Mobilio and I are going to continue to keep in touch to help spread more acts of kindness in our community,” Nicole said.
