Merrick Kiwanis brings joy with toy drive

On Saturday, Dec. 15, members of the Merrick Kiwanis distributed dozens of toys collected through Sen. John Brooks’s annual Holiday Toy Drive to many joyous children.

The toys were donated by children in the six elementary schools of the Merrick and North Merrick School districts.  This year’s donations not only served the needs of local families, however, but also helped those in need in other communities — gifts were also donated to support the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and the Northwell Cohen’s Children’s Hospital and Trauma Center. 

“The holiday season is supposed to bring joy and comfort, but if a family is struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table, much less a gift or toy for a child, it can be hard to feel that joy,” said Brooks, a Democrat from Seaford. “Today, we are working together as a community to address those needs.”

More than 35 families and 80 children were identified by school officials as being in need of assistance.  Each family also received a full holiday meal, including a turkey donated by Smith Street Deli in Merrick. 

President Joseph Tsentner leads the Merrick Kiwanis, which received assistance from the Key Club and the high school Kiwanis club to sort and pack the food and toys for distribution.

Bellmore Merrick Central High School District provided the space in the Brookside School to store and sort the donated food and toys. 

— Compiled by Andrew Garcia