Community Toy Drive yields over $3,000

Children and adults filled Matty’s Toy Stop in Merrick on Dec. 6, when the store buzzed with excitement for a charitable cause.

Todd Weinstein, 46, of East Meadow, recently used his Facebook page “Nice Things that Happen in East Meadow” to spread a message of holiday cheer with his first Community Toy Drive to benefit the John Theissen Children’s Foundation.

“We’re all blessed, and we could do something to help this holiday season,” Weinstein said. “That’s really the takeaway.”

Rather than ask for donations, however, Weinstein purchased 70 boxes of World’s Finest Chocolate that he distributed to local children, who sold them for $30 a box. After collecting roughly $3,000, Weinstein invited the community to Matty’s Toy Stop for a night of tax-free shopping with 10 percent off all purchases.

“We’re always glad to help and contribute to stuff like this,” said Jim McQuade, the store’s owner, as he filled a bag with additional donations of board games, Avengers-themed merchandise and princess crowns.

“This is a great event that he took on himself so he could help kids in need,” said Ross Schiller, who attended the shopping spree with his children.

Community groups that got involved included the Workmen’s Circle Hebrew School in East Meadow, Boy Scout Troop 362 and the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization New Frontier chapter in East Meadow.

This will be the 27th annual toy drive for the Wantagh-based John Theissen Children’s Foundation. Theissen hosted his first drive in 1992, four years after he had a brain tumor removed at the former Schneider Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park. He spent the 1988 holiday season getting to know the children in the oncology unit there, and left with a goal to help them.