Retired NFL wide receiver Lonnie Allgood (center), Spotswood Police Sgt. Chris Bierman and Alliance on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse President Dawn Crandall share a moment with one of the children at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, on Dec. 18. SPOTSWOOD — A special group of people from the borough have managed to bring smiles to sick and hospitalized children for the second straight year.
After running a drive that rounded up more than 200 new gifts this fall, members of the Spotswood Alliance on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, along with Police Sgt. Chris Bierman and retired NFL star Lonnie Allgood, delivered the gifts last week to children in two New Brunswick hospitals.
“The kids are very receptive, and the parents are very excited to see us come in with gifts,” said Dawn Crandall, president of the alliance. “It’s really heartwarming.”
The gifts came from the generosity of many children and adults from the Spotswood area. The alliance asked middle school and high school students to donate gifts, and also sought help from Kiddie Academy of Spotswood, which Crandall noted was an “unbelievable” help with the gift collection.
“We collected a lot from the students, but once I went to Kiddie Academy to collect the gifts, we were inundated,” she said.
Crandall spent a day wrapping the gifts at home with help from a few other volunteers, and on Dec. 17 she and the other volunteers brought toys to children in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s intensive care unit and cancer ward. The following day, they did the same for children at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.
The gifts were age-appropriate, and there were plenty of gifts for infants on up to teenagers. Those who were 18 or 19, perhaps too old for a toy or a certain game, received a gift card. And any siblings who were visiting in the hospital also got a gift. It was extra special for the youngsters to learn that the person visiting them was a professional football player — Allgood played wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. He now runs the nonprofit organization Pros for Kids.
“He’s really good with the kids,” Bierman said. “When they find out who he is, they’re very receptive, and so is the hospital staff. And he does it from his heart, not because of who he is.”
Bierman, Allgood and Crandall stick around as the children open the gifts. The best part, they said, is not just seeing the kids smile, but when the parents thank them for bringing the child a moment of happiness.
“A nurse said that there was one child in particular who they had not seen smile at all, and when Lonnie gave him the gift, he was smiling ear to ear,” Crandall recalled.
“It’s a good feeling,” Bierman said. “You feel like you’re helping somebody, and you can see the joy that you bring to the kids and their families. They’re very appreciative, and the hospital staff is very appreciative.”
Crandall launched the drive last year, and she, Bierman and Allgood delivered toys last December to children at Saint Peter’s. This year’s drive resulted in more toys and a second hospital. They also garnered the generosity of 1-800-Pack-Rat in Monroe, which matched every gift with a $10 donation to the Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick.
Other volunteers who helped out were Kristal Neal, child life coordinator at Saint Peter’s, Lynn Moffitt from Kiddie Academy, Terry Eisenbrey from 1-800-Pack-Rat and Alliance Vice President Terry Salge.
The volunteers said they plan to keep the tradition going in future years, as Crandall noted that the staff at both hospitals told them they’re welcome to come back.
“It’s a very worthwhile cause,” Bierman said. “It makes you realize that there are so many people out there who you can help just by spending a little bit of your time.”

