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The Dick Melloni Memorial Toy Drive was started in 1993 to raise the funds necessary to provide toys to needy families in Wareham and its surrounding communities. Dick was a tireless fund-raiser for local and national charities supporting child health and education. Since his passing, we have tried to maintain his spirit of giving by establishing this toy drive in his name. Happily, each year since its' inception, the DMYF Toy Drive has grown. Because of the generosity of our sponsors, we have been able to provide toys to greater than 200 families each year; that’s over 400 children per year receiving gifts on Christmas morning.
2006 was one of the largest and most successful Christmas Toy Drives to date. Through dinner and raffle prize ticket purchases, sponsorships and cash and toy donations, we were able to net the resources necessary to provide toys to 238 families; that is better than 530 children who received gifts on Christmas morning thanks to the generosity of sponsors! This represents a 20% increase in the number of families and children served over 2005, indicating that word is out in the community regarding our efforts (see growth graph below)! This is crucial, since we are dependent entirely upon family and friend referrals targeting families in need of our services. And we could not be more pleased with the level of concern and support showed by many of our neighbors and friends this holiday season. As each year, toys were delivered to local families in need by uniformed members of the Wareham and Onset Fire Departments just in time for the holiday celebration.
In addition, we are again greatly pleased to have received 100% participation this year from our past supporters! And we are excited to add a number of new sponsors to this year’s list. We cannot grow and meet the needs of community without your continued help, for which we are greatly appreciative.
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