After flood, donations pour in for foundation

Every holiday season, the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh fulfills tens of thousands of requests for presents for sick and underprivileged children. This year, a flood at the foundation’s Family Fun Center on Wantagh Avenue jeopardized its efforts.

During a heavy rainstorm on Dec. 9, water poured into the building where the donations are stored. John Theissen, the president and founder of the organization, was in Chicago at the time, filming a segment about the foundation for the Steve Harvey Show, which aired a week later.

Theissen returned the next day to start cleaning up the mess, and immediately began his efforts to replace the damaged items. He lost enough toys to fill 31 large garbage bags, along with four Play Station 4 video game systems. He conservatively estimated the losses at about $11,000, not including sports memorabilia that was to be auctioned off at a future fundraiser.

Though only a fraction of items in the fun center were damaged, Theissen said that any loss is devastating. Most of the donations that were damaged were on the floor or low shelves in the basement, which houses the foundation’s Wish Room and toy storage. Thousands of toys on the first floor, donated by community members for the holiday toy driver, were unscathed.

Meenan home heating oil, on Burns Avenue in Wantagh, stepped up to help. On Dec. 17, the company presented Theissen with $3,300 to replace some of the lost items. The contribution included a $3,000 corporate donation, and $300 collected from employees.

“It was important to Meenan to step up and help these guys out,” said Pete Catapano, the regional sales manager. “Giving back is an important thing.”

Catapano said what Theissen does for children across Long Island is nothing short of phenomenal.

Meenan has been in Wantagh for 80 years, and Catapano said the company has a desire to give back to the community. Being able to help another Wantagh-based organization, which happens to be a customer, was rewarding, he said.

Peggy O’Connor and Fran Duffy organized the collection to aid Theissen’s organization. “As soon as I heard they had a problem, Fran and I said, ‘Let’s do this,’” O’Connor said. “Meenan is serving the community. That’s what we do.”

Theissen said he was surprised by the donation but very grateful, and added that the money will go a long way toward replacing some of the lost items. He said he plans to use the funds to purchase gaming systems, and buy some basketballs, footballs and make-up kits. Community members already helped to replace many of the toys that were lost in the flood, Theissen noted.

MSC Industrial Supply Company, in Melville, included the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in the 14 hospitals and organizations it donated to this holiday season. It provided Toys ‘R’ Us gift cards to the foundation.

“One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to give back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Alessandra Cavalluzzi, director of community relations and engagement at MSC. “Since launching our annual Toys ‘R’ Us Holiday Gift Card Program in 2005, MSC has provided the John Theissen Children’s Foundation with 1,500 gift cards, valued at $37,500. With these contributions, we hope to lift the spirits and warm the hearts of the children and families that the organization serves.”

This month, Theissen expects to fulfill about 76,000 requests for gifts. He partners with more than 200 groups on Long Island. “I don’t think there’s an organization or an agency that doesn’t get from us over the holiday season,” he said.