Asbury Park Toy Drive Delivers Gifts to 450 Families
Denise Tejada: This is absolutely going to make my Christmas
The weather outside may have been frightful but hundreds of city youth got special deliveries from some of Santa’s local helpers during the annual Asbury Park Toy Drive Toy Drop event, held from 9 a.m .to 2 p.m. Saturday at 574 Cookman 
Avenue, the landmark Press Plaza bank building recently purchased by Sackman Enterprises.
An estimated 450 families received age appropriate pre packaged bundles based on need, Asbury Park Toy Drive founder Connie Breech [shown at right with Santa and Mrs. Klaus] said.
“We have a lot of free stuff to give away to kids,” Breech said.
Included in the horseshoe shaped free grab and go shopping areas were children’s books, over 200 Kimball Closet of Jackson donated coats, winter boots, and free Windmill hot dogs, snacks by Wegmans, and soda and water by Pepsi.
Denise Tejada, a member of the Women’s Club of Asbury Park brought her two children 14-month-old Monty and 4-month-old Dior Isabella to see Santa.
“This will bring things together for me,” Tejada said. “Right now I don’t even have dinner. This is absolutely going to make my Christmas.”
Hot dog loving Xavier Fortune, 11, opted out of returning for another serving once he spotted Santa and Mrs. Klaus.
Running over to the Christmas holiday icon, Xavier blurted, “Are you going to come to my house? How are you going to know where I live. I talked to you on the telephone yesterday.”
Santa responded by saying “Santa knows all.”
The Bradley Elementary School student said he was hoping for an XBox One, some games to go with it, and a bicycle.
Santa said he couldn’t promise anything but Xavier would have to be extra good.
The Asbury Park Toy Drive began in 1999 as a way to support the needs of Asbury Park’s youth during the holiday season, and although that remains its core mission, the nonprofit has expanded its efforts to include Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Day events, as well as an annual backpack and school supply collection and coat drive.
This season, collection boxes were placed in Hotel Tides, Georgie’s Bar, The Stone Pony, Asbury Park Roastery, Jimmy’s Restaurant, Frank’s Deli, DJs Delights, Dr. Chinicci’s office, The Dawg Joint, Silver Ball Museum, the historic Stephen Crane House, Asbury Park Towers, Anchors Bend, America’s Cup, Pure, Asbury Park Police Department lobby and inside the Asbury Park City Clerk’s office, Dark City Brewing, Asbury Festhalle Biergarten, The Wonder Bar, and at Purple Glaze.
A wish list was created via Amazon.com and monetary donations were sent to Asbury Park Toy Drive, PO Box 1469, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.
The Asbury Park Toy Drive is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, e-mail asburyparktoydrive@aol.com or phone 732-312-7359.
———————————————————————–
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.
