In 2010, the co-owners of Martino Auto Concepts in Glen Cove started a winter holidays toy drive in their parking lot.
Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton recalled that first event at a Dec. 2 news conference outside the Coliseum that announced Sunday’s drive.
“I couldn’t believe the amount of cars that were there, just in their parking lot,” DeRiggi- Whitton said, “and I felt at that moment that this could grow, and who would ever think that from that effort 11 years ago, here we would be today hosting the largest collection in the nation. Not only do we normally collect enough for Nassau County, but we usually collect enough to help the five boroughs.”
U.S. Marine Corps Major Chuck Kilbride (Ret.) heads the yearly campaign by the Marines to join Toys for Tots.
“Last year,” said Kilbride, “we collected 126,000 toys and that was the largest collection ever in the United States.”
On Sunday, surrounded by smiling faces, the Toys for Tots charity event was full of cheer. Families with young children, and many friendly dogs, were at the event outside the Nassau Coliseum.
Although the air was nippy, guests were in good spirits, bundled up in their coats and Santa hats. Santa Claus and an elf ambled around the car lot, taking pictures with people and telling jokes. Food trucks sold hot coffee, sandwiches and an array of treats. A DJ on an outdoor stage played a mixture of modern Christmas songs and pop music. The weather was pleasant, and a crowd gathered around luxury sports cars propped open and full of toys donated to the event. The U.S. Army and Marines worked together in assembly lines, stocking boxes full of toys that would be sent to children locally and nationwide.
On the outdoor stage, officials and volunteers joined Kilbride, Holzer, LaPadula, and DeRiggi-Whitton to greet the donors flocking into the Coliseum parking lot. Butch Yamili, owner of the Coral House catering venue on Milburn Avenue in Baldwin, received a Five-Star Diamond Award of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences for his service to the cause. Each year, he has hosted the yearly kickoff for the Toys for Tots at Coral House, serving 250-500 donors without charge. Kilbride also made Yamili an honorary Marine.
Scanning the officials and volunteers on the stage and then the sea of donors, DeRiggi-Whitton said, "Nassau County is not only the safest county, but it’s also the best as far as giving, so we shouldn’t be surprised. Congratulations to all of you for making this work.”
