Santa Clarita chiropractor Dr. Thomas Polucki turned over a bin of food donations to a local nonprofit organization Wednesday after gathering contributions throughout the month of November.

This is the third year that Dr. Polucki and his wife, Toni Polucki, have hosted a food drive at their office for Santa Clarita families in need within the organization “Helping Our Children.”

“The patients did very well with bringing donations,” said Toni Polucki.

And while Dr. Polucki and his patients were able to fill the bin with donations just in time for Thanksgiving, that wasn’t the case from the start.

“At the beginning of the food drive, the donations were coming in slow and I was worried that we weren’t going to be able to fill the bin,” said Toni Polucki. “I got on Facebook and I posted it on my personal page that we were in desperate need of donations.”

It was only a matter of time when the Poluckis received a donation from across the country.

One of Toni Polucki’s childhood friends from her hometown in New Jersey saw her post and contacted the Walmart Supercenter on Carl Boyer Drive to donate two baskets full of donations.

Susan Soltowski-Slack

“Using the Walmart online system, all I had to do was show up, give them my order number and they brought my donations to my car for me,” she said.

After Susan Soltowski-Slack’s act of kindness, donations started pouring in to the Poluckis bin.

“We were all so excited because we were sure that we were going to fill it this year,” said Toni Polucki. “We felt so thankful for everybody that took the time to donate.”

With the help of the community and Soltowski-Slack, many Santa Clarita families will be able to enjoy from the donations.

“It doesn’t matter how far away people are; if you put it out there, there are avenues that can help you put the word out,” said Toni Polucki. “Using technology for good, you can help a nonprofit that’s on the other side of the country.”

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