Sterling House Seeks Donations For Stratford Holiday Toy Drive

STRATFORD, CT — The holidays are almost here, and Sterling House Community Center is seeking donations to help make the season bright for area children in need. The nonprofit is requesting new, unwrapped toys be donated by Dec. 3 to the center, 2283 Main St.

Residents who want to donate can take a tag off one of the toy drive trees at businesses around town. The tag will provide information about the age and requested gift of a child in need. Tag trees can be found at: Stop and Shop of Stratford, Mellow Monkey Gifts and Home Decor, Grace Lutheran Church, Holy Name of Jesus Church, Sikorsky Federal Credit Union and Mutual Security Credit Union.

Donated toys will be taken to a facility on Long Beach Boulevard, which will be set up like a toy shop where parents can pick up the gifts, according to Sterling House Executive Director Amanda Meeson. In some cases, local emergency medical service personnel will dress up like Santa and deliver the gifts to families, she said.

Top requested toys include Star Wars items, Hatchimals, LOL Surprise! Dolls, Doc McStuffins, Fingerlings critters, Blume dolls, VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels, FurReal Friends, Minions and Legos. Board games, arts and crafts items, books, puzzles, sports equipment, baby dolls, superhero costumes, action figures, and toys for toddlers and preschoolers are also popular. Gift cards and monetary donations are accepted as well.

The toy drive is sponsored by the Stratford Junior Woman's Club. For more information, call 203-378-2606 ext. 350 or email toydrive@sterlinghousecc.org.