New Rochelle's TP Toys Honored For Pandemic Relief Efforts

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — On Friday, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins presented New Rochelle’s TP Toys And Accessories with the New York State Senate Empire Award for its work to ease the strain on the community during the coronavirus pandemic. The Empire Award is given by the New York State Senate to honor businesses who not only give back, but “demonstrate exceptional leadership and contribute significantly to a community’s quality of life.”

According to Stewart-Cousins, TP Toys owner Kemesha Salmon earned the accolade through her efforts to brighten the lives of children whose daily routines were upended by coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions.

The store instituted an online Mystery Bag giveaway allowing members of the community to make donations towards gift bags filled with educational toys and crafts for local children. Salmon packed the bags herself and delivered the gifts to underprivileged kids stuck at home. Even though the business faced challenges of its own due to lockdown orders, TP Toys continued its annual school supply and backpack giveaway.

“New Rochelle, the epicenter of the pandemic in Westchester County was put into mandatory lockdown last year, and with schools closed, TP Toys And Accessories helped area children stuck inside,” The Office of the NYS Majority Leader said in a statement announcing the Empire Award. “Salmon continued her annual school supply and backpack giveaway and kept her store open to customers through FaceTime shopping and curbside pickup. For years, TP Toys And Accessories has been serving the New Rochelle community with specialty children’s toys and Salmon is known to many for her regular charitable work through her foundation, Kemesha's Kommunity.”

The Kemesha's Kommunity charitable organization works to support underprivileged children in the New Rochelle area. The group provides everything from birthday and holiday toys to laptops for schoolwork for children in need.

For her part, Salmon credited the community for helping to take care of each other, saying that it is her neighbors that make her good works possible.

“I am very proud to be the recipient of this award on behalf of you, my community,” Salmon said in a social media post expressing gratitude for the honor. “If you’ve shopped at TP Toys, supported our fundraisers, donated to Kemesha's Kommunity or to any of our initiatives, this award is yours too and is recognition for your dedication to helping me uplift all of our community members.”