Please Give to the SOMSD Parenting Center Toy Drive


When it comes to making life easier for our neighbors, the South Orange/Maplewood community is extraordinary, especially during the holiday season when the South Orange Maplewood School District’s Parenting Center runs its Annual Holiday Toy Drive.

Now in its 22nd year, the toy drive provides holiday gifts for children in our school district so we can ensure all our families enjoy the holiday season. Last year our toy drive benefitted over 500 children in 150 families in our two communities. And each year we count on all of you to help us bring the spirit of the holidays to our entire community so we can share in the joyous celebrations that mark this time of year.

How does it work? Unwrapped gifts, either purchased with donations or left in the collection boxes, will be provided to parents/caretakers identified by district social workers. These parents/caretakers provide a “wish list” to the social workers. Next, volunteers will “shop”, filling bags with wish list items for each family who will wrap the items themselves and give them to their children during the holidays. Rest assured, 100% of the donations will be used to buy gifts.

To make it easy to help, following are several ways for you to participate:

  • Mail a check, payable to the SOMSD Parenting Center, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
  • Donate new, unwrapped gifts for children, infancy through age 17 using the collection boxes located at your local retailers, pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high school and houses of worship.

On behalf of the South Orange Maplewood School District Parenting Center, we offer our heart-felt thanks for your generosity. As always, MAPSO makes the best neighbors!

We hope this holiday season is your best one yet!

South Orange Maplewood School District’s Parenting Center


Arturo’s Maplewood to Host ‘Toy Drive Tuesday’ Evening of December 10

Arturos Pizzeria, Maplewood will host Toy Drive Tuesday on the evening of December 10th. The Parenting Center will receive 10% of sales for the evening to help support the 2019 Holiday Toy Drive.

Eat in, take-out or gather with friends for a “Arturos Take-out Party.” Thank you to Arturo’s owner Fred Shandler for his continuing support. You can find the menu and contact info for Arturos here: http://www.arturosnj.com.

Of course, there are other ways to contribute:

On behalf of the South Orange Maplewood School District Parenting Center, we offer our heart-felt thanks for your generosity. As always, MAPSO makes the best neighbors!

We hope this holiday season is your best one yet!



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