Acenda has officially wrapped up our 30th Spirit of the Holidays toy drive! Thanks to our many generous donors, we were able to provide toys to more than 1,000 children and 500 families in our community. We are honored to have the opportunity and support to be able to spread the holiday magic to those we serve.
What makes Spirit of the Holidays truly special is that it is about more than simply handing out gifts. Our dedicated staff thoughtfully select toys for the families they support and provide them directly to parents and caregivers, empowering them to give to their children during the holidays. This approach preserves dignity, strengthens family connections, and ensures each child receives something chosen with care and intention.
“Spirit of the Holidays gives us an opportunity to share Acenda’s wealth with the families and the communities that we serve, to let them know that we’re not just here in a work capacity, but we’re here to care about your family,” said Jayson Ross, a visitation aide with Acenda’s Supportive Visitation Services. “We want to extend that care out to you through the gift of giving.”
A Special Thank You
We want to take a moment to thank each of our fundraising and donating partners for this year’s toy drive. We extend our sincere gratitude to Nexus, Certified Steel, Jefferson Health, United Methodist Church of Haddonfield, Holy Family Church of Pitman, Ageless Skin & Lasers, and Busy B’s Square-Dancing Club. A special thank you to PSE&G, Heritage’s Dairy Stores, and DeSimone Construction, who collectively raised more than $40,000 for this year’s toy drive. We couldn’t make widespread, positive change without the support of each of these groups.
In addition to all of our external partners, we want to thank the Acenda staff who worked to make this year extra special. We are deeply grateful for each of our staff members who take the time to “shop” for their clients and distribute the gifts to the families they work with. And thank you to each of our staff volunteers for helping select toys, restock tables, and bring holiday cheer to our event.
Moving Forward
As we welcome the start of the new year, we are thrilled to announce our annual Golf fundraiser will occur on June 08, 2026. This event raises money to support the many programs Acenda offers for children, individuals, and families throughout New Jersey. For updates on upcoming events and the work our agency accomplishes day-to-day, please consider subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media.