The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

LIBERTY, NY (November 26, 2013) – The 2013 Toys for Tots Kick-Off Event for Sullivan County, NY was held on Saturday, November 23 at the M&M Auto Group in Liberty.

Dubbed the M&M Auto Group Mission – “No Child in Thunder Country Should Be Without a Toy for The Holidays – the official Sullivan County Toys for Tots campaign works in conjunction with Hilltop Homes, the Marine Corps League, CACHE and Thunder 102 radio.

The afternoon saw a live broadcast from Thunder 102 radio personalities: Michelle Semerano, Mike Sakell, Paul Ciliberto and Jason Dole, and the showroom transformed by the Santa’s Village at Hilltop Homes elves into a holiday wonderland with special trees on display.

Each tree is available for an adoption donation of $250. The donated monies will go to Sullivan County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). And the decorated tree (with toys included) will go to a needy family.

For more information on how to adopt a tree, call Thunder 102 at 845-292-7535.

M&M Auto Group will continue to be a Toys for Tots drop-off point. Other collection points – over 100 locations and growing – are listed here: 2013 Toys for Tots Drop-Off Locations.

Nashville singer, songwriter Jimmy Wayne stopped by, as did Dharma the Wonder Dog and her driver Jonathan Fox from the award-winning “River Reporter.”

During the event, Fred I. Stumpp, Jr., representing the Marine Corps League Catskill Detachment 652, presented a plaque to Thunder 102 in appreciation of their participation in the 2012 Toys for Tots campaign. Accompanying Mr. Stumpp was Marine Staff Sergeant Jason Paul Rocco Humphrey currently serving at Stewart Air Force Base. 

Here are some photos from the afternoon. To see more photos or to purchase prints from the 2013 Toys for Tots Kick-off event, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.