(MECHANICVILLE, N.Y.) With the support of a record 120+ Saratoga County businesses, Toys for Toga donated more than 4,500 toys to three Saratoga County community centers this holiday season.
This donation included $37,000 in gifts and technology specifically for teenagers. This donation was made by longtime Toys for Toga member Death Wish Coffee, the nonprofit organization Brewnited and the Saratoga County Foundation. These gifts included video game consoles, tablets, Apple AirPods, Stanley cups, scooters, and other wish list items requested by specific children.
Toys for Toga donations are split evenly between the Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services and Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.
The donations were delivered to the beneficiaries on Thursday following a news conference at DeCrescente Distributing Company in Mechanicville. An estimated 1,500 children will benefit from these donations, according to the beneficiaries.
Toys were collected at local restaurants, hotels, bars, retail stores, schools, clubs and more since Nov. 1.
A more than $14,000 cash donation from the campaign’s GoFundMe page and sponsor support will also be split among the beneficiaries.
“We really received a great outpouring of support from the community this year,” said Carmine DeCrescente III, Vice President of DeCrescente Distributing Company, one of the program’s founding members. “All of our toys and donations stay local, and I think that really resonates with the organizations that participate and help promote our program.”
Other key fundraising efforts in this year’s Toys for Toga campaign included:
- Death Wish Coffee once again giving away coffee for toy donations at their Saratoga Springs offices.
- Druthers Brewing Company making their Toys for Toga Winter Ale, distributed by DeCrescente Distributing Company.
- The return of supporters Ball Corporation & Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs.
- New supporters Sun Cruiser Iced Tea Vodka, Saratoga Water, Aquatic Development Group & The Bunker.
- Fundraising events at New Country Porsche of Clifton Park, Saratoga Tattoo Company, the Horseshoe and Dunning Street Station.
- New Country Toyota dropping off a Toyota Sienna’s worth of toys.
- G. Willikers Toys once again giving 20 percent off toys purchased for Toys for Toga.
“The Mechanicville Area Community Services Center is incredibly grateful to be a part of Toys for Toga again this year,” said MACSC Executive Director Megan Quillinan. “These local businesses will make the holidays shine for so many kids in our community. We truly appreciate and wish to thank every donor, sponsor and business involved. It truly takes a local community to make sure no one goes without.”
For more information about the campaign, please go to www.toysfortoga.com