North Babylon Teen's Toy Drive Celebrates 10 Years

NORTH BABYLON, NY — For the 10th year in a row, a North Babylon teenager will help the community with a toy drive. The coronavirus won't stop 15-year-old Emily Meyer from bringing holiday cheer to the area.

Meyer was inspired to start her popular "Emily's Awesome Toy Drive" in 2010, one year after she was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center on Christmas night when she was 5.

"I was admitted and received a huge bag of toys the next morning from a Child Life Representative," she told Patch. "My mom thanked them and stated we had a beautiful Christmas the day before but they insisted that every child should experience the joy of the holidays if they are hospitalized during the holiday season and asked us to keep the toys."

After receiving the gifts, her grandfather asked how they received the toys to give out and was told that said they were all donated. The following year, Meyer wanted to help out by bringing toys to the hospital herself.

With help from her grandpa, the two collected 20 toys and since then, Meyer hasn't stopped. Her grandfather passed away in 2015, and she continues to honor him year after year.

With every passing year, the toy drive continued to get bigger and bigger. This year, Meyer hopes to collect 2,500 toys. According to her mom, Tara DeCola, a total of 2,426 toys have already been donated to the drive.

"I now donate to several hospitals and organizations all over the Long Island, not just Good Sam. I donate to: Cohen Children's Medical Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Winthrop Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, the John Theissen Foundation, and Angela's House," she said. "Some of those organizations also keep siblings in mind as well and that is very important to me. I will also donate locally to North Babylon/TOB organizations because giving back to the community that supports me the way they do gives me so much joy."

While the pandemic has not stopped Meyer from spreading joy, she did make some changes. She has already started to collect donations in the summer, anticipating "the second wave," she said. She was also worried she wouldn't be able to donate, but thankfully her toy drive is still going strong as most of the hospitals and organizations are still taking physical donations.

However, two of the local hospitals are only accepting contactless donations, so Meyer decided to also accepting monetary donations to purchase toys through Amazon and send them that way.

"Donors have become very dependent on the Amazon wishlist, which I started a few years ago. I feel that people are excited to be able to donate with a few clicks, rather than dropping off or having me pick up," she said. "For those who do, we make sure to follow the COVID-19 rules and regulations in regard to masks, social distancing and sanitizing."

Meyer credits the massive success of her toy drive to the local community as well as social media. She provides updates and all information via Facebook and Instagram.

"I am third generation North Babylon and feel the love and pride of our community just like my mom and grandfather before me," she said. "I can't thank the community and schools enough for the support they have shown me over the years. Up until recently, the mission of Emily's Awesome Toy Drive was strictly word of mouth and this could never have become what it is, without North Babylon."

She also stated that she never thought the drive would grow as big as it has when she started as a kindergartner.

"I am so grateful that I am able to provide the same comfort and care to sick children and their families despite the pandemic," she said. "I am hopeful that if enough toys are collected, I can donate year round. One thing I have to say is that I could not do any of this without the kindness of my donors so, thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

All photos courtesy of Tara DeCola