Merchants of Mercerville Shopping Center in Hamilton are organizing their annual holiday drive to benefit the Sunshine Foundation’s Mercer County Chapter.
From Nov. 18 to Dec. 31, select stores in the Route 33 shopping center will be collecting monetary contributions—via check or cash—in holiday tote bags located on the their counters. Participating stores include ACE Hardware Store, Alicja’s Boutique, Chic Nails, Fred & Pete’s Deli, Italian People’s Bakery, John’s Reading Center, Party Fair and US Karate & Fitness.
“In the spirit of holiday giving, the Mercerville Shopping Center’s store owners appreciate the support that we receive from the Hamilton/Mercer community,” John Strycharz, drive co-chairman and owner of John’s Reading Center, said. “We want to return their generosity by helping a deserving area charity. We are very happy to organize our holiday drive to benefit Mercer County Chapter Sunshine Foundation for the wonderful work that this organization does for our community.”
The Sunshine Foundation’s mission is to fulfill the dreams of chronically and seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children whose families cannot fulfill their request due to the financial stress of their child’s illness. The foundation reaches out to children with diagnoses such as, but not limited to, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, severe autism, cystic fibrosis, Down Syndrome, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell disease and leukemia.
The Mercer County Chapter supports area families who stay at the Dream Village in Central Florida, a complex equipped for special needs children. The trip for families is an all expense paid vacation, complete with spending money and theme park tickets to Disney World.
Some of the participating store owners at Mercerville Shopping Center gather to discuss plans for their holiday drive for MCC,SF. They are (first row, left to right) Tommy Armenti of Fred & Pete’s Deli; John Strychratz, owner of John’s Reading Center; and Eileen P.Thornton and Cathy DiCostanzo, MCC,SF fundraisers. Others are (second row, left to right) Chad Ruff of US Karate & Fitness; Carmen Guagliardo; and Alicja Michalak of Alicja’s Boutique.,
