Sandy Donation Drive Hosted at Bloomingdale Concert Wednesday

Wednesday's Walter T. Bergen School concert will not only feature holiday tunes but encourage the generosity of attendees.

The school is asking that relatives and friends who come to the concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym, bring unwrapped toys and gift cards to be donated to Superstorm Sandy victims and children in the Toms River area. Principal Frank Verducci said the donation drive effort is being spearheaded by the WTB National Junior Honor Society members under the direction of Maureen Jacobs and Jillian Engelhardt.

Additionally, the students will be sponsoring a "Deck the Halls" competition in the school as a fundraiser to gather money to purchase candy canes a foundation started by a five-year-old from Bloomingdale and his family members to benefit Sandy victims. Verducci said the candy canes will be distributed to kids at a holiday party on Dec. 22.

The concert itself will bring together the school's chorus and band and include performances by Samuel R. Donald School. Verducci also noted several students who have been selected to particiate in the North Jersey Area Band in 2013. The students are Natalie Kowalski (clarinet), Veronica Jakubowski (flute), Anthony Tango (percussion) and Rachel Stevens (trumpet).