Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) and her Santa Helpers organized her 13th annual Toy Drive to assist sick and needy children in Queens.
Several thousand toys were donated by churches, synagogues, civic organizations, schools, senior clubs, and many local residents. "As our nation's economy toughens, my constituents continue to display an unrivaled generosity to help those less fortunate than ourselves. I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the community for once again making my gift drive a huge success. Since we received a record-breaking number of toys, we were able to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of sick and needy children this holiday season," said Carrozza.
Carrozza provided toys to numerous institutions, including: St. Mary's Hospital for Children, Queens Children's Psychiatric Center, Anibic, New York Hospital Queens FreeMat program, which provides toys to the children of troops currently overseas from the Army's 77th Regional Readiness Command based out of Fort Totten, domestic violence shelters, and the toy drives run by Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council.
Carrozza, together with her staff and Santa, personally delivered toys to the hospitalized children at St. Mary's Hospital for Children on Tuesday, December 22, 2009.
"I want to thank Dr. Robert Mittman, Joe Prestia of M & S Italian Food Specialists, and Officer Damien Skinner of the New York State Department of Corrections for their assistance in collecting and distributing items for the toy drive," said Carrozza.
Among the schools and community organizations that participated in this drive: Auburndale Improvement Association, Inc., Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Bay Terrace Cooperative Section I, Inc., Bayside Hills Civic Association, Community Board 11, Free Synagogue of Flushing, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Community Center, Inc., Holy Cross High School, Luigi's Pizza, PS 32, PS 169, PS 209, PS 221, SNAP of Eastern Queens, St. Andrew Avellino School, St. Luke's School, St. Mel's School, and William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School.
