Still Time to Donate to Bronxville's Toys for Tots

Bronxville Troop Five Boy Scouts are working to make sure that all children have a happy holiday. The scouts have set up a number of drop-off locations throughout the Village, with the help of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

New and unwarpped toys of all types are accepted in the campaign for children up to age 18. However, gifts for teenage boys and girls are at the top of the list this year.

Right now, there are drop-off boxes at many local businesses and places of Worship including: Value Drugs, Bronxville Fitness Club, Christ Church, Peoples Bank and many others.

"Toys will be collected until the 24th," said Bronxville Troop Five Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Ircha. "Any toys donated up to the 21st will be used for Christmas. Any toys coming in after that date will still be collected and distributed in communities that celebrate Three Kings Day on January 6th."

So, the very last chance to drop off toys at the locations is December 24, at closing time for the respective businesses.

Bronxville Troop Five Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Ircha's son, Steven Ircha Jr., is coordinating the effort for a second year in a row.

"The community responded very generously last year, donating over 500 toys to the Bronxville campaign," said Steven. "Once again we would like to encourage people to spread holiday cheer to some of the more than 16 million children living in poverty in the United States."

The Vice President of Toys for Tots, Bill Grein, says that because of Sandy, there will be a larger number of desperate parents trying to determine how to provide Christmas gifts for their Children.

“We intend to be there for these unfortunate families. Why should the children who just lost everything lose their hope and belief in Santa as well?" said Grein, who is a retired United States Marine Corps major.

The Bronxville scouts will also be accepting donations in the form of checks made out to "Toys for Tots." Their email address is scoutmaster@troop5.net.