Virus puts Toys for Tots campaign in jeopardy
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Wally Fronzaglio hopes a Christmas miracle might come early.
For the past 31 years, Fronzaglio has served as coordinator for the Mon Valley Leathernecks’ participation in Toys for Tots.
The program risks being canceled this year as Fronzaglio said state COVID-19 restrictions have forced Donora leaders to opt out of hosting the event.
It would be the first time in nearly three decades the program wasn’t able to host its annual distribution.
When Fronzaglio took the job as coordinator in 1989, the Leathernecks ran their own Christmas toy drive independent of Toys for Tots.
In 1992, the group signed on with the corporate program.
More than 120 donation boxes are placed throughout the Mon Valley, collecting enough toys to fill a 45-foot long trailer that is typically brought to the Donora Fire Hall the week of Christmas.
“Because of the virus and all of the restrictions, council does not want all of those people inside being that the fire hall is closed, which is understandable,” Fronzaglio said.
Donora has hosted the event for the past 13 years.
In a normal year, parents or guardians bring their children to the fire hall on the day of distribution.
Children enter the toy room alone and choose their favorite items, guided by volunteer students from Belle Vernon Area and Ringgold high schools. Neither school has confirmed student participation in the event this year.
Last year, more than 600 families registered to participate and 975 children got to take home more than 12 toys each.
“If I don’t find a facility, like a social hall or fire department, I will not be able to run the program this year, which would be a terrible loss for the entire Valley,” Fronzaglio said. “It would almost be like Christmas was canceled for a lot of these kids.”
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