Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is hosting its annual Santa’s Toy Shop toy distribution four days this month: Thursday, December 15; Friday, December 16; Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23.
In its 12th year, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens’ Santa’s Toy Shop will provide toys and gift cards to families for area children ages 17 and younger.
Volunteers from the Carpenters Union, EJ Electric, DeSales Media, and other community volunteers began to hand out the presents on Thursday, December 15 (9:30 – 5 p.m.) and Friday, December 16 (9:30 – Noon), at St. Vincent Ferrer RC Church, 925 E. 37th Street, Flatbush, Brooklyn. Staff and volunteers helped sort the gifts days before the distribution.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens expects to help 1,000 area families facing hardships in this time of crisis and rising inflation. At each of Santa’s Toy Shops, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens uses a model that gives parents the dignity to pick and choose appropriate gifts for their children of all ages; gift cards are also provided.
The gift cards are purchased using donations to the agency through the Jazz & Cocktails event at Russo’s On The Bay, held in November. This year, $97,000 was raised through event donations.
The Toy Shop will continue at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria, Queens, next week on Thursday, December 22, and Friday, December 23. The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, will assist in this distribution on Thursday, December 22.
For more information on toys and how to help, click here.