Calvin Grasso is a 4th grader at Upper Moreland Intermediate School who loves his family, friends, dog Kool Aid, sports, Legos, the boardwalk, waterparks, roller blading, video games, stem boxes and of course, You Tube. He is always up for a good joke or riddle!  4 years ago, when he was only in 1^st grade, after learning about gratitude, appreciation and those less fortunate around the holidays he had a wish to ‘Make Every Kid Happy’ and be sure he found a way that every child enjoyed the season feeling loved, cared for and woke up with a smile on their face. After we talked about how not everyone may get gifts for a million varying reasons or situations – this was his idea. After our chat about it, he stopped and thought for a moment and his only question was, ‘well how do we get them all presents then – what can we do?’ ❤️ His idea was really to Make Every Kid Happy and each year – he has done just that.

Calvin partnered with our friends at the Upper Moreland Police Department & Toys for Tots to make that wish come true and we ran with it! Over the years he has collected an amazing amount of donations with help from family, friends and the community which go directly to local families in need by sitting at storefronts on the weekends to collect during the holiday season. Each year, our partners grow in numbers from the police department, ArtWare Gallery in Abington, 5 below in Willow Grove, Pure Barre in Upper Dublin, and even Thompson Toyota in Willow Grove with special guest advocate Jon Kruk who came and met fans and signed autographs at our drive!! We hope to make this year bigger and better!

Calvin himself chose the original sponsors, makes the flyers and sits with his parents and has collected thousands of toys over the years that are helping in the local community and Toys for Tots. The Upper Moreland Police Department shares our donations with local families, shelters, schools for children with special needs, foster children, churches and schools with unsponsored children, families who have had a crisis, sick children, mental health facilities, routine 911 calls and the list just goes on and on across the entire county and even neighboring counties who have run out of toys for their own in need that Upper Moreland shares and invites Calvin to help pass them out so he can see firsthand where his hard work and big heart goes. We also have pre-addressed and pre-stamped holiday cards out during collections to sign and we send to our troops.  We donate to all families, religions, situations – whatever you celebrate or need!

He has earned awards and recognition including a House of Representatives Citation (from our very own House of Representative Nancy Guenst located in Hatboro), as well as a Citizens Proclamation  from the Upper Moreland Township and the Commander Award from the Toys for Toys US Marine Corps Reserve and recognized by his school district for his hard work and community help.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Drop off your NEW and UNWRAPPED toy at our office beginning Monday, 11/7/2024. The final date to drop off toys will be on Thursday, 12/5/204.

Drop Off Days/Times: Monday through Thursday; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.