With Your Help, A Brighter Holiday for Children in Need

Brighten the holidays for a needy child by donating a toy or book to the Park Slope Civic Council’s 17th Annual Toys for Tots drive. All through the holiday season, the Civic Council collects new and gently used unwrapped gifts for children ages 12 and under at locations throughout the Slope. All toys collected are given to local organizations that work with families in need.

Last year’s program resulted in a record-breaking 1,100 toys, almost twice the amount of any year past. Our goal for this year’s drive is to match or even exceed that total, spreading more joy and community spirit.

The first event of the drive will take place on Sun., Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as we gather at St. Saviours Parish Hall, located below the church on Eighth Avenue and Sixth Street to wrap the collection boxes for our many drop-off locations.

Toys and books will then be collected starting on Thanksgiving, Thurs., Nov. 24, all the way through Little Christmas, Fri., Jan. 6. You can leave your gifts at:

  • Astoria Federal Savings, 110 Seventh Ave. at President Street / 459 Fifth Ave. at 10th Street
  • Back to the Land Natural Foods, 142 Seventh Ave. between Carroll Street and Garfield Place
  • The Church of St. Saviour, 611 Eighth Ave. at Sixth Street
  • Citibank, 114 Seventh Ave. at President Street
  • The Community Book Store, 143 Seventh Ave. between Carroll Street and Garfield Place
  • Dram Shop, 339 Ninth St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
  • Little Things Toy Store, 145 Seventh Avenue between Carroll and Garfield Streets
  • New Millennium Real Estate, 443 Fourth St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
  • Office of Assemblymember Joan Millman, 341 Smith St. at Carroll Street
  • Orrichio Anderson Realty, 302 Seventh Ave. between Seventh and Eighth Streets
  • Park Slope Armory — YMCA Sports Complex, Eighth Avenue at 14th Street
  • Prospect Park YMCA, 357 Ninth St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
  • Scottadito Restaurant, 788 Union St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

Toys will also be collected at the Jingle Bell Jamboree, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., at Congregation Beth Elohim, Eighth Avenue and Garfield Place.

Thanks to everyone who is volunteering venues and time for this worthy holiday cause. Interested in helping with the drive or offering your business as a collection center? E-mail us at toys4tots@parkslopeciviccouncil.org.

from the November 2011 Civic News