That means Felician will be one more of Santa’s helpers collecting toys and gifts for the Lodi Police Department to distribute to area families who might not otherwise receive Holiday gifts this year. Three Lodi police officers picked up bins loaded with toys, games, and stuffed animals at Felician’s Lodi Campus.

Closter Police officer Don Nicoletti started the toy drive 31 years ago, and now gifts are distributed throughout Bergen County and beyond, including Hackensack University Medical Center, and to military families.

Lt. Anthony Mobilio is in charge of Community Policing in Lodi, and oversees the department’s outreach activities. “It started because the Felician Sisters invited all of the first responders and police departments in the area to come to their convent and have coffee one day as a way to build community, get to know each other, and say thank you for their service,” says Mobilio.

That connection led to Felician getting involved for the first time this year with the toy drive. “I helped oversee the gifts with Andy Fellows who is our Campus Minister. We try to do things together – The Blessed Mary Angela Institute and Campus Ministry. We make a good pair,” said Sister Annelle Vellis.

Lodi police couldn’t agree more. “I think it’s fantastic, I was recently referred to Andrew Fellows and it’s going to be a great partnership between the two of us,” Says Mobilio.

The toy drive wasn’t Felician’s only outreach program this Advent season. “Patrick Dezort, Associate VP of Student Affairs is also overseeing a Giving Tree for several families in the area.

About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.