MANVILLE: Relief effort returns past favors

Drive at VFW collects for others this time

By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
   Manville residents, who have been through their share of devastation from natural disasters, know how it feels to lose much of what you own.
   That is why a group of people got together Saturday and held a drive to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
   ”So many times people came to Manville, and we decided to give back a little bit,” said Tony Toporowski, one of the organizers with the RIPNJ team and a fireman with Company No. 2. “We are collecting for everybody else this time because we got out of this one relatively lucky.”
   Kristin Straszewski is a part of the group of friends who “have all lived here all our lives, and we wanted to give back. This is our town and our community, and we lucked out, but we know what devastation is like, and we know what it is like to struggle and bounce back. We figured, since we lucked out, why not give back to everyone who came to us when we needed it?”
   Sessy Nieves and her nephew, Brandon, helped collect items at Walmart.
   The group, according to Mr. Toporowski, is a nonprofit organization with a mix of members from the VFW and the paranormal research group RIPNJ.
   The collection will continue until Saturday, and donations are being sought of new clothes, like underwear, socks, toiletries, men’s products, women’s products, infant and adult diapers, cleaning supplies, infant formula and blankets. Donations can be dropped off at the VFW at 600 Washington Ave.
   Donations will be given to VFW posts in storm-damaged areas to disperse to residents in need. Mr. Toporowski said the group will be doing more for the holiday season.