Another Holly Jolly PBA Christmas
NJ State PBA fulfi lls Christmas wishes for less fortunate children
■ STORY BY AMBER RAMUNDO
■ PHOTOS BY ED CARATTINI JR. AND AMBER RAMUNDO
The annual NJ State PBA Christmas miracle began at 8 a.m.
on Dec. 4, when Vittorio Spadea arrived at the Pines Manor in
Edison with his Toyota Highlander filled with packages. Spadea
knew he wanted to get an early start in his first year of taking on
the role of chief elf of the NJSPBA Toy Drive for New Jersey Foster
and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS).
It was the big day that the Somerville Local 147 State Delegate
and D.A.R.E. officer had been preparing for over the past few
months by leading a toy drive campaign throughout the Somer-
ville School District. Anticipation to fill the Pines Manor confer-
ence room with gifts for FAFS grew, as school hallways and Local
147 police headquarters filled with donations.
“Getting the schools involved and really having the kids see my
passion in trying to get this going has been awesome,” Spadea
noted. “We had about 20 huge boxes packed with toys.”
Thanks to the charitable efforts from his holiday helpers in
Somerville, Spadea knew the PBA toy drive was already off to a
good start. And after attending the Dunellen Toy Drive Film Night
hosted by Dunellen Local 146 that weekend and witnessing the
gifts that filled the lobby after two nights of charitable cheer, he
knew the PBA Toy Drive would be nothing short of spectacular.
He looked around the Pines Manor conference room knowing
that soon, Locals from across the state would all come together
to fill the walls and walkways with piles of toys that would make
holiday wishes come true for many deserving children in need.
“I see my kids and all the things we’re doing for them for
Christmas, and it’s hard to think that there are kids out there who
don’t have the ability to have the things that we have,” Spadea
explained. “Making a kid happy and smile on Christmas is what
it’s really all about. It’s the giving season.”
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ DECEMBER 2018
Santa’s got a brand-new bag
Soon after Spadea’s arrival, the NJSPBA trailer pulled into the
Pines Manor parking lot like Santa’s sleigh making a landing on
a rooftop. Driving the brand-new PBA truck was Local 146 State
Delegate Joe Dudley, whose Christmas Converse sneakers once
again matched his holiday cheer as he arrived to make the big
delivery. The stuffed animals, dolls, games and every other toy
imaginable that packed the trailer to capacity were the result
of Dunellen Local 146’s second annual Toy Drive Film Night,
which grew into two back-to-back holiday movie showings at the
Dunellen Theater.
Members of the community stood on line for entry into the
popular event dressed in pajamas and costumes from “National
Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” The ticket to get into the highly
anticipated film night was a toy donation. Judging by the over-
flowing trailer, it’s safe to say that nobody came empty-handed.
“Gifts filled the entire lobby. They were racked, packed and
stacked on the tables, behind the tables and under the tables,”
explained Dudley. “We had a train of guys going back and forth to
stock the trailer that was parked outside the marquee.”
Suddenly, the entire PBA Toy Drive was in full motion, as help-
ing hands from Locals across the state responded to the task of