UTU Operators Joe Novak and Frank Daly were recently presented by Upper Darby Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie with the Mayor's Service Award at a small ceremony at the Township Municipal Building. Theft of an Easter Seals donation jar containing approximately $50 disturbed the quiet Easter Sunday afternoon for the employees of a pharmacy in Drexel Hill. The theft didn't sit well with Norristown High Speed Line operators Joe Novak and Frank Daly at nearby 69th Street Terminal either. "When we found out about the incident, we knew we had to do something," said Novak. "It really wasn't right. That money was there for disabled kids so that they can go to camp and other things. So what we decided to do was take up our own collection here with all of the drivers so we could replace the money." As operators from 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby found out about the plan, they eagerly contributed their coffee money to the cause. "We are a part of this community so we felt we needed to step up; with the other operators this was so easy," said 23-year veteran Frank Daly. Operator Al Williams contributed the container to collect the donations - which quite fittingly was an old coffee can. "This was such a worthy cause, you just wanted to give." Operator Robert McFalls was inspired for a more personal reason. "I have children with special needs. It was just the right thing to do." In a short period of time, the operators raised over $70 dollars - more than the amount that was stolen - before taking it to Upper Darby Police who then contacted Easter Seals representatives. |
