Oyster Bay To Get 'Toys For Tots' Holiday Collection Boxes

OYSTER BAY, NY — Oyster Bay town officials plan to hold a monthlong toy collection to help families and underprivileged children, including a drive-through holiday toy drive for the first time amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Joseph Saladino, the Oyster Bay town supervisor, together with Councilman Tom Hand announced the monthlong collection Monday. The effort, a partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps, will help collect new, unwrapped toys that will be used as gifts for children. The effort includes a "Cruise Thru Holiday Toy Drive" at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, Dec. 5. The drive-through event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6. Santa Claus will make an appearance and kids can drop off letters to the North Pole in a drop box. Letters dropped off with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa.

Collection boxes will also be stationed at locations throughout the town from Friday, Nov. 13, through Dec. 14. This includes one at Oyster Bay Town Hall North on Audrey Avenue.

"The Toys for Tots Drive has long been a huge success under the leadership of the U.S. Marine Corps, especially here in the Town of Oyster Bay, as just last year we smashed the previous year’s record in our toy drive collection," Saladino said in a news release. "This year’s drive is especially crucial, as due to the coronavirus global pandemic, many more families than normal are feeling an undue financial burden. I encourage all of our residents who are able to donate to this amazing cause, as the Toys for Tots Drive helps ensure that disadvantaged children within our community do not have to go the holiday season without something to bring them happiness."

Toys for Tots collection boxes will be at the following locations:

• Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa
• Department of Public Works Facility, 150 Miller Place, Syosset
• The Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage
• Syosset-Woodbury Community Park Community Center, Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury