North Shore officials take part in Toys for Tots
State Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine says he makes it a point every year to donate toys. He also hosts an annual toy drive, which he was forced to cancel this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But last year’s drive was so successful, he said, that even after the toys were delivered to children in need, and even after the holidays, people continued to donate.
He brought those toys to Glen Cove’s Downtown Café on Dec. 5. “We had a number of wonderful toys sitting in our office,” Lavine said, “and it was only right that we helped to distribute them this year to those kids that are in need.”
John Zozzaro, the owner of Downtown Café, has hosted a Toys for Tots box for years. This holiday season, with the pandemic creating a financial crisis for families across Long Island, Zozzaro said that ensuring that every child has a special Christmas morning is more important to him than ever.
“A long time ago I was presented with [a Toys for Tots box] and I said sure, why not,” he said. “A lot of customers from Downtown Café came and brought a lot of presents.”
Lavine agreed that every child should experience the joy of receiving a gift, adding that he was thankful not only to Toys for Tots, for making that possible for children across the nation, but also for Downtown Café, for taking part in the initiative.
Zozzaro said he appreciated that Lavine stopped by and helped fill his box with toys. “I’ve always said it’s better to give than receive,” Zozzaro said. “You get more satisfaction out of it.”
The Toys for Tots program has been overseen by the U.S. Marine Corps since 1947. According to the program’s website, local campaigns are conducted in over 800 communities in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Nassau County Toys for Tots campaign is based in Garden City and run by Gunnery Sgt. John Sardine. Last year, it distributed more than 221,000 toys to 219,000 children.
“Toys for Tots is very well established, and for many, many years — for decades — has been a source for joy not only for those who receive the toys,” Lavine said, “but for those of us fortunate enough to be able to donate and contribute the toys.”
Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan partnered with the Home Depot in Syosset to host a toy drive at the Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club in Locust Valley on Dec. 8. “Together we facilitate targeted donations all over,” Lafazan said of the partnership. “With Home Depot I have brought toys to children at Winthrop Hospital and PPE to essential frontline workers. They asked me, ‘Where can we help?’”
Lafazan recommended Grenville because, he said, they do “unbelievable” work for so many children from different backgrounds.
“During these turbulent times, families can’t provide toys,” he said. “To be able to put a smile on a child’s face means so much to me.”
Lavine said he hoped to bring light and joy to families this holiday season, even as many are suffering physically, financially and emotionally. “We’re all facing heartbreak,” he said, “and every day, those of us who are more fortunate owe it not only to our friends, family and neighbors who are less fortunate, but to our own selves to be as generous and as helpful as possible. That’s the only way we’re going to get through this.”
County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said she shared Lavine’s sentiments. Over the past 10 years she has helped host a massive Toys for Tots drive, organized by Joe Mac LaPadula, of Martino Auto Concepts, in the parking lot of Nassau Coliseum.
DeRiggi-Whitton said she was pleasantly surprised when she arrived at the Coliseum Dec.6. There were people in cars lined up all the way to Hempstead Turnpike, intent on donating toys. There were so many toys, she said, that a number of trucks were needed to transport them to Office of Emergency Management ware houses.
“We had to get special permission from the governor this year, with Covid being an issue,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “We had strict criteria that we had to follow regarding masks and the number of people that were volunteering. We had to lower that number substantially, and everyone abided and I was happy about that.”
The Coliseum was also very gracious in allowing its parking lot to be used as a massive toy drop location, she said. “We normally collect 50,000 toys, and this year we collected over 100,000,” she said. The toy drive is in its 10th year. “People were so generous. It really was beautiful to see.”
People from as far away as Philadelphia and New Jersey came out to support the cause, DeRiggi-Whitton said. But what really stood out to her was a man who pulled up to offer a matchbox car. “He said, ‘I’m sorry I don’t have any money, but I want to give you this,’” she recounted. “A lot of people know they’re lucky to be OK during this time, and they see that there are a lot of families that are really struggling. They want to make sure the kids have a good Christmas.”
Laura Lane contributed to this story.
