'Elfie's House' Again Collecting Toys For Barnegat-Area Kids In Need

BARNEGAT, NJ — What started out as a former struggling single mom trying to pass forward kindness last year has grown into an even bigger event.

Barnegat's Dawn Castronuovo launched "Elfie's House" in 2022, a toy drive that she hoped would collect 100 toys. Instead, she was able to donate more than 1,200. Read more: 1,200 Toys Donated By Former Struggling Single Mom From Barnegat

As a single mom raising four children, she remembered how the community would come together and help her family each holiday season. Castronuovo chose to start Elfie's House as a way to give back, now that her children are grown.

This year, the operation is even bigger. Instead of just eight drop-off locations like last year, she now has 26. These are spread through Barnegat and Stafford like before, with the additions of Ship Bottom, Lacey, Waretown and West Creek.

Castronuovo told Patch she even had to turn down some locations because she handles most of the behind-the-scenes work herself.

She's introduced an elf mascot - after all, it is Elfie's house - and Castronuovo says they have special events planned that should be "a lot of fun."

If you want to support Elfie's House, below is a list of the drop-off locations. You can follow Elfie's House on Facebook for more information.