Tis the season for the Bronx Chamber toy drive.
On Wednesday December 1, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Toy Drive and Holiday Party. Hundreds of chamber members and business leaders came to the event to donate and celebrate the end of another successful year for Bronx businesses.
This year the chamber received enough toys and money to distribute about 500 toys to several charitable organizations throughout the borough.
“It was a great success,” said Lenny Caro, the executive director of the chamber. “The toys we have are going to help the unfortunate kids, some living in shelters. To see the generosity of our members was great.”
The event has been held around this time for the past five years, Caro said. Although the event remains pretty much the same from year to year, this time more people than ever showed up, Caro said.
“We had more than 140 people bring gifts and have a good time,” he said. “Every year the event keeps growing and growing.”
For Sister Mary Alice, of Part of the Solution (P.O.T.S.), which will be receiving hundreds of toys from the chamber soon. The donations are an important part of making sure that poor Bronx families are able to enjoy the holiday season.
“It’s very important this year,” she said. “We want to try to give every child what they want.”
“The numbers have definitely increased,” Sister Mary Alice said.
Toys donated to the chamber will also be going to Help USA, a non-profit that provides housing and supportive services to low-income families.
