Idle Hour, Farrell's Hosting Toy Drives Wednesday Night

A local woman is trying to again turn the night before Thanksgiving into a night of giving.

Stephanie Salardino, an East Brunswick resident who has a summer home in Point Pleasant Beach, has again organized toy drives at various bars and restaurants in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties for tonight, Thanksgiving eve.

“It was really simple with just a few phone calls made to get bars on board with participating and sharing the info,” Salardino said.

She’s inspired by her own children.

“I see the joy on their faces when they open a gift,” she said. “Every child should have that happiness and joy during the holidays.”

The toys then donated to families in need through charitable organizations serving the communities where the bars are located.

The toy drive is from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. Here’s a list of bars participating this year, and where the toys are being distributed:

• Idle Hour, Point Pleasant -- St. Gregory’s Pantry
• Farrell’s, Point Pleasant Beach -- St. Gregory’s Pantry
• Crab’s Claw, Lavallette -- Faith Lutheran Church
• River Rock, Brick -- Ocean County Hunger Relief
• Fratello’s, Sea Girt -- Saint Mark’s Church
• Bar Anticipation, Lake Como -- Bradley Food Pantry
• Spring Lake Tap House, Spring Lake Heights -- Saint Mark’s Church
• Reef & Barrel, Manasquan -- Saint Mark’s Church
• Gotham, Red Bank -- Lunch Break
• Buona Sera, Red Bank Lunch Break
• Fox & Hound, Edison -- JFK Pediatric Unit
• Withum, Smith & Brown, New Brunswick -- Elijah’s Promise
• Lozito Law, Milltown -- Elijah’s Promise
• North Brunswick Pub, North Brunswick -- Elijah’s Promise
• Golden Lion, Milltown -- Aldersgate