The Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, give toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in the memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday.

The trucks will be accepted at Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Friday, according to Maddox's obituary on the William Slater II Funeral Service website.

Trucks can also be dropped off at the Whitehall Police Department lobby throughout Wednesday.

Before Friday's funeral and toy trucks collection, friends will be welcomed for a viewing of Maddox at the Slater Funeral Service in Scott Township from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Maddox was visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo with his mother when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of an African painted dogs exhibit. He was mauled to death by the dogs.

A group of families who belong to Whitehall's St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Parish have started a Facebook page to also raise funds for the Derkosh family.

"A few of us moms from St. Gabriel's wanted to do something for the Derkosh family," page creator Jennifer Gannon said. "We came up with the idea to raise money for them. With the money raised, we plan on getting various gift cards from various different places and also give a monetary donation.

"Any amount will help. The account is set up through PayPal, and you can donate any amount you would like."

Click here for Gannon's Facebook page.

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