Monday, February 10, 2025
Emma Vulpi, 13, has set a new personal record by collecting over $10,000 worth of toys in her 6th annual toy drive on Dec. 21, in partnership with the John Theissen Children’s Foundation.
“I’m doing this for all the children with cancer and people in shelters, because they also deserve a Christmas,” Emma said. “It was a really fun experience, it’s nice to see everybody be happy.”
Local businesses rallied to support the toy drive, including the A&S Pork Store and Deli in Massapequa, the Cornell Cooperative Farm, and the Grand Stage Diner in East Meadow.
Emma, a 7th grade honor roll student at W.T. Clarke Middle School, began her annual toy drive on her seventh birthday when she received several gift cards to buy herself toys. To her parents’ surprise, she said she would rather buy toys for children in the hospital.
The Vulpi family’s toy drive runs all year, collecting toys in preparation for the holiday season.
Last year, Emma Vulpi was a recipient of the 17th State Assembly District’s “Women of Distinction” Award for her extraordinary efforts to support children going through difficult times.
Emma was aware of these children thanks to awareness programs from St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Today, she has gotten to know many of those children.
Last year, they donated $6,000 worth of toys to the John Theissen Children’s Foundation based in Wantagh, which distributes toys to children in Long Island’s hospitals and shelters.
“It’s sad that we have to raise money for the kids in shelters, but it’s heartwarming to watch all these kids get what they want for Christmas,” Emma said.
The whole Vulpi family comes together to support the toy drive, bringing in grandparents and siblings to gather donations and make their own.
Patrick Vulpi, Michele’s husband and Emma’s father, died in April of 2024 from ALS.
“She really wanted to continue this in honor of her dad,” Michele said. “As devastating as it all was, between the diagnosis and then him dying, it was still nice to see a community help us with everything.”
“I know that he would want me to do this, like, going forward with other families in need,” Emma said.
The John Theissen Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization that for 33 years focused on collecting toys for sick and underprivileged children. The foundation also helps families cover medical expenses for children in the hospital.
Theissen, as a teenager, was brought to Schneider’s Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park for brain tumor removal. During his stay, he met Tasha, a fellow patient who was seven years old.
“This little girl was always just like an angel on my side,” he said.
Tasha, Theissen said, was frequently admitted to the hospital because of her medical condition — and despite the challenges she faced, she always tried her best to make other patients feel better during their stay.
Tasha’s generosity left a lasting impression on Theissen. He held his first toy drive in 1992, and continues to pay it forward.
Generosity from Theissen and the Vulpi family make projects like the Wantagh Family Fun Center possible.
“After 31 years, we were to purchase a building,” Theissen said.
The Family Fun Center offers arcade games, arts and crafts, a movie theater room and more, all free of charge. In addition to in-house services, the center also has a Wish Room, offering toys for children’s birthdays and other events.
The center is funded from donations to the foundation, including annual support from Vulpi family.
“Emma’s amazing, she really is,” Theissen said. “She’s an old soul for her age, and what she’s been able to do, and what she’s gone through while still being able to be resilient, is incredible.
“I’m honored to know her,” he continued. “I know when I was a kid, I certainly wasn’t doing anything like what Emma’s been doing.”
If you are interested in donating to Emma’s toy drive, contact Michele Vulpi at (516) 524-3451.
To learn more about the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, visit jtcf.org.
