Toy Drive a success, and we thank you!

PHOTO BY BILL DOWD

(Story reprinted from the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club website)

Chez Dowd has become Toy Central for the past few months as the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club makes its pushes to collect holiday toys for the children of Staten Island who lost their possessions, in many cases their very homes, and their hopes for a happy Christmas and Hanukkah season.

Toy drive creator/coordinator (and shopper extraordinaire) April Dowd -- shown above with the latest batch of toys she came up with this week -- now qualifies to list experience as "toy purchaser/acquirer" on her resume after the drive is completed.

Why? We collected an estimated 750 toys!

We've been periodically thanking various people for their efforts and donations during our drive. Here are two more special mentions:

• Former SRC members Sue and Chas Owens, now active with the Northville Rotary Club, for making a major contribution to the effort.

• The Terrace at Highpointe Homeowners Association in Troy for stepping up big-time with donations.

We'll be doing the final packing Saturday and shipping the toys to Staten Island on Sunday, via Forth Holiday Freight.