Record 51 schools collect more than 9,000 toys in Sussex, Warren counties holiday drive
NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — Students from a record 51 schools in Sussex County and northern Warren County collected more than 9,000 new, unwrapped toys this holiday season as part of a friendly “Stuff the Stocking” competition benefiting Project Self-Sufficiency’s Season of Hope Toy Drive.
The annual contest encourages schools to gather toys for children and teens in need, with top-performing schools earning trophies and monetary donations for their school activity funds. Organizers said the 2025 effort marked the most successful year in the history of the program.
Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School won the overall competition after collecting more than 1,800 toys. Pope John Middle School and Ogdensburg Elementary School finished second and third, respectively. North Warren placed fifth overall but earned the newly created Warren County Stuff the Stocking trophy. Great Meadows Middle School and the Washington School District placed second and third in the Warren County category.
The Season of Hope Toy Drive provides new toys and gift cards to children and teens in Sussex and northern Warren counties. In 2025, more than 2,300 children and teens received gifts through the Season of Hope Toy Shop, organizers said.
“The holidays can be a challenging time for many families in our area, and many are experiencing unprecedented economic stress,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, executive director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “The overwhelming response by these students demonstrates to the families served by Season of Hope Toy Shop that the community cares about them. Having children select toys for other children is a special way to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season. Whether a school gathered less than 50 toys or more than 500, we are grateful to each student and school which participated and helped to make the 2025 effort the most successful Stuff the Stocking contest to date.”
Dozens of additional schools across Sussex County participated in the competition, including Alpine Montessori, Byram Intermediate School, Florence M. Burd Elementary School, Franklin Borough School, High Point Regional High School, Kittatinny High School, Lenape Valley Regional High School, Newton High School, Pope John High School, Sparta Middle School, Sussex County Technical School, and Wantage Elementary School, among others.
Participating Warren County schools included Allamuchy Township School, Blair Academy, Frelinghuysen Elementary School, Hackettstown High School, Hope Township Elementary School, Knowlton Elementary School, Warren County Technical School, Warren Hills Regional High School, and Warren Hills Regional Middle School.
Information about the Season of Hope Toy Drive and other programs and services offered by Project Self-Sufficiency is available at www.projectselfsufficiency.org or by calling 973-940-3500.
