Delivering toys to every home in the largest township in America is no easy task. That is why Santa Claus is teaming up with Supervisor Don Clavin, the Hempstead Town Board and the United States Marines Toys for Tots organization to hold a “Cruise Through” toy drive on December 10th at Baldwin Park and to establish five collection sites – all to ensure that every Town of Hempstead child enjoys a Happy Holiday. Today at Senior Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby Plaza outside Hempstead Town Hall, Supervisor Clavin announced the details of the upcoming holiday programs underneath the towering Town of Hempstead Christmas Tree. He was joined at the event by Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Councilman and Congressman-elect Anthony D’Esposito, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr. (a former United States Marine), Councilman Tom Muscarella, Councilman Chris Carini, Councilwoman Melissa Miller, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll.
The Town of Hempstead’s Toys for Tots “Cruise-Thru” event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow on Saturday, December 10th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donate an unwrapped toy at this drive-thru event, and say hello to Santa Claus and drop off letters to the North Pole! In addition, toys can be donated at Hempstead Town Hall’s annual Christmas Tree, Menorah and Kinara event on Thursday, December 8th at 4 p.m.
“Santa Claus is coming to Hempstead Town, and we are proud to work with the United States Marines Toys for Tots to make sure that every kid can experience the joy of the holiday season,” stated Supervisor Clavin. “We encourage all residents to ‘cruise through’ Veterans Memorial Park this Saturday to drop off an unwrapped toy or stop by one of the many town facilities that will serve as collection sites.”
For those who cannot make either event, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at collection bins stationed at five locations through the month of December, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Hempstead Town Hall and Hempstead Town Tax Office are open Monday-Friday only):
- Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead (Monday-Friday only)
- Hempstead Town Tax Office, 200 North Franklin Street, Hempstead
(Monday-Friday only) - Veterans Memorial Park, 1700 Prospect Avenue, East Meadow
- Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville
- Newbridge Ice Arena, 2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore
Toys for Tots’ mission is to collect and distribute new and unwrapped toys as Christmas gifts to those children less fortunate for Nassau & Suffolk County. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots programs, which has distributed over 627 million toys to more than 281 million children.
Visit hempsteadny.gov for updates on the Toys for Tots drive or follow the Town of Hempstead on Facebook (@hempsteadtown).