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The Asbury Park Toy Drive will be distributing toys and coats to the city’s youngest residents during its annual Toy Drop event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 574 Cookman Avenue, the landmark Press Plaza bank building.

A year in the making, city residents and businesses have been holding toy drives and hosting benefit events to help collect toys and coats. Families need only show proof of residency, a valid id or current utility bill to receive gifts.

And now founder Connie Breech is extending an invitation to the hundreds of supporters to ‘witness the goodness in everyone’s hearts.’

To ‘the people who make this happen and who have made it happen for 17 holiday seasons — just grab a cup of coffee and a donut from Purple Glaze or an omelet from Toast Asbury Park or DJ’s Delights Deli & Restaurant, or a frappe from America’s Cup Coffee Company and watch something magical happen right in the heart of our city,” Breech wrote in a Facebook post. “And pray for NO SNOW!”

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.

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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