Wyckoff Volunteer Who Runs Toy Drive Honored

WYCKOFF, NJ — A township volunteer who runs an annual toy drive and was one of 18 people honored Monday at the inaugural Hometown Heroes Awards ceremony at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck.

Joyce Mortorano was honored for her work as a Youth Children's Services volunteer. Every December she organizes a drive to give toys to 100 underprivileged children. This year, she hopes to reach more than 100.

The 19 awardees, including Holy Name Medical Center, were nominated by neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members.

"They are our veterans, our firefighters, our first responders, our educators and our family — our brothers and sisters and our sons and daughters," Gottheimer said. "None of these people stood up because they sought recognition, they did it because they wanted to do what was right.”

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Photo: Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), center, celebrates with the district's Hometown Heroes Award recipients. From left to right: Nick Magarelli, Irina Tesoriero, Wendy Loszyinski, Mary Ann Uzzi, Izzy Infield, Joyce Mortorano, Angelae Wilkerson, Sergeant Marc Abate, Argine Safari, Jeanne Martin, Sterling Blake, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Shannon Lazare, Dong Joo Lee, Ethan Sandlofer, Manny Gonzalez, Mary Ellen Vichiconti, Evan Kutzin, Becky Carlson, Sergeant Brian Joyce, and Teaneck Holy Name Hospital President and CEO Michael Maron.