Spread The Holiday Cheer: Holiday Toy And Food Drives In NYC

Toy Drives 

FreeMAT Toy
Drive
: run by a voluntary organization of employees from New York Hospital
Queens, this toy drive will donate to children of deployed army personnel from
local reserve bases until December 15
th. To drop off donations,
please visit the
New York Hospital Queens Main Entrance Security Desk at 56-45
Main Street, Flushing, NY. For more information, visit
here:
nyhq.org/evc/Page.asp?PageID=EVC000167&Date=2010-12-05

Holiday Toy
Swap
: Hosted by ThredUp, this toy drive allows parents to donate their
children’s gently used toys to a family in need. ThredUp sends their own boxes,
picks up the shipment and puts the shipment label on the package so you don’t
have to spend a dime! For more information, visit
thredup.com/toys

Brooklyn New
York Marine Foundation:
With several convenient drop-off locations throughout
Manhattan and the outer boroughs, bring a smile to the faces of needy children
this holiday season by donating new, unwrapped toys. For more information, please
visit:
brooklyn-ny.toysfortots.org

La Casa De Salsa Holiday Toy Drive: Brooklyn’s premier dance
studio is hosting its first-ever holiday toy drive. Stop by to donate a toy or
a book to bring a smile to a child’s face! For more information, visit
facebook.com/lacasadesalsaDS

The Jewish Community Center Holiday Toy Drive: Donate new,
unwrapped toys through December 14
th and help support the non-profit
organization A Sanctuary For Families, which gives support for domestic
violence victims. For more information, visit:
jccmanhattan.org/cat-content.aspx?catid=2881&progID=22011

Room To Grow: Donate gifts at the Room to Grow Manhattan
headquarters or support this charity by purchasing items from the online gift
registry! This non-profit organization supports low-income parents of babies
and toddlers year round, so help bring these families some holiday cheer! For
more information, visit:
roomtogrow.org/

Baby Buggy:
Bring some holiday cheer to parents and babies living in poverty by donating
new and gently used items such as bottle warmers, bibs, bassinets, and more at
Baby Buggy’s Manhattan Headquarters on West 37
th street. For more
information, visit:
babybuggy.org

Coalition For
The Homeless Annual Toy Drive
: Help support this organization’s goal of reaching
1,000 gifts for needy children living in New York City shelters this holiday
season! You can drop off toy donations at Public Advocate Bill de Blasios’
office in Manhattan.
For more
information, visit:
pubadvocate.nyc.gov/holiday-toy-drive

Second Chance
Toy Drive
: Log onto their website for locations nearest you! They accept only
plastic toys, and they must be clean and fully operational. The drive lasts
until December 9
th. Please visit secondchancetoys.typepad.com/ for
details.

Food Drives

Montessori School’s Holiday Food Drive: Help the children of
the Montessori School of New York International reach their goal of 500,000
non-perishable food items by donating! You can contributions at any of the
three campuses of the Montessori School of New York International: 105 8
th
Avenue, Park Slope; 347 East 55
th Street NYC; and 55-30 Junction
Blvd, Queens.

Food Bank For New York City: Log onto their official website
to find out which donation site is closest to you, and see which food items
they are in need of! Your contribution will go towards one of the many food
assistance programs throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit:
www.foodbanknyc.org/go/how-you-can-help

Daily News Food
Drive:
This food drive is City Harvest’s largest event. Donations are accepted
at any FDNY or NYPD police station, as well as any New York City Modell’s
Sporting Goods stores. You can also donate directly at
the Daily News Building
lobby at450 West 33
rd street. For more information, please visit:
cityharvest.org/donate-food/donation-drives/

Project
Hospitality:
Donate fruit juice, coffee, tea, non-perishable milk, and peanut
butter and jelly at Project Hospitality’s food pantry. You can also donate
fresh fruits and vegetables at their Community Service Center at 514 Bay Street
from 9a.m. to 5p.m. For more information, please visit
projecthospitality.org/index.php?id=34

Feeding America:
This holiday season consider making a monetary donation to Feeding America and
help Americans who are struggling against hunger and poverty. You can donate
$25, $50, $100, or name your own price. For more information, please visit:

feedingamerica.org/take-action/donate.aspx

Greenpoint
Reformed Church
: Make a monetary donation or leave boxed or canned food in the
collection box at the church or outside the front door. Also, consider
volunteering with church’s food pantry and bring a smile to those in need! For
more information, please visit:
greenpointchurch.org/?page_id=84

Animals Relief
Fund:
Pets need food too! Go online to their website and see a list of
participating pet stores to buy a bag of pet food to be donated! Or make a
monetary donation online to help struggling pet owners. For more information,
please visit:
arf-ny.org/index.html

Animal Care and
Control Holiday Drive
: Visit the drop-off sites in your neighborhood and give
food, blankets, and toys to homeless NYC animals. Also consider adopting a cat
or a dog from the
AC&C this holiday season as well. For more information,
visit:
nycacc.org/Holiday_Donation_drive.html

ASPCA: Donate
unopened food for cats and dogs at the
ASPCA’s Adoption center 424 East 92nd Street between 1st and York Ave during the regular
adoptions hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. or Sunday 11:00 A.M.
– 5:00 P.M. For more information, please visit:
donate.aspca.org/sitecore/content/Home/Donate/donating-blankets-petfood-etc/

Relevant Directory Listings

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Chickenshed NYC

<p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed’s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.</p>

Steps on Broadway Youth Programs

<p class="m_6201101365486487057m_1751229968981391907gmail-m-6447730382188674378msonospacing" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For 40 years, the Youth Programs at the internationally celebrated Steps on Broadway have nurtured young dancers, ages 18 months to 18 years.  Whether seeking a fun dance experience or comprehensive pre-professional training, there is a program suited for everyone.  Classes include ballet, tap, jazz, theater dance, hip hop, contemporary, modern, pointe and more.  Taught by a faculty of internationally-recognized concert, ballet, Broadway and celebrated guest artists, every student is encouraged to discover their artistic uniqueness, deepen their passion for the art form, while growing as dancers and individuals. </span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Classes are offered throughout the academic year and summer.</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">First Steps (ages 18 mos – 5 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Kids & Teens (ages 6-18 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Pre-Professional Program (ages 7-18 yrs, by audition only)</span></p>

Adventuring Portal

<p><a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games for kids.   We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&D.</p> <p>Our D&D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.  Monday – Friday.  Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).  15 total gaming hours for $180.  If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.   </p> <p>Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor’s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done & take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do.</p> <p>All our games focus on experiential learning.   Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&D adventuring!</p> <p>We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum. </p> <p>All girls’ groups available. </p> <p>I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started Adventuring Portal, an online Dungeons & Dragons business for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.</p>