St. James To Host Holiday Gift & Toy Drive-Thru

ST. JAMES, NY — The 2nd annual St. James Community Holiday Gift & Toy Drive-Thru is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Gyrodyne/Flowerfield, St. James. The event is slated to be hosted by the St. James Fire Department Engine Company No. 1.

Visitors can enter via the entrance on Route 25A. An unwrapped toy serves as the admission.

Thomas Donohue, commissioner of the St. James Fire District, said the event means a lot to him in terms of giving back.

"As a parent, it would be devastating to me if I had to choose between paying my utility bill, buying groceries or putting some gifts under the Christmas Tree," Donohue told Patch.

Live holiday music will be performed by John Zollo, lead singer of The Dedications, as well as performances by the Smithtown High School East Chamber Choir.

Santa Claus is due to make an appearance on a fire engine with a mailbox handy for children to drop off their letters. All donations will be distributed by the Smithtown Township Emergency Food Pantry to families and children in the community.

The event is a community effort. Here are the groups set to participate:

• St. James Fire Department Engine Co. 1
• Celebrate St. James
• Troop 7 Boy Scouts
• Smithtown High School East Leadership
• Smithtown High School East Chamber Choir
• Veterans Recovery Coalition
• St. James Girl Scouts Troop
• St. James Civic Association
• Smithtown Food Pantry
• Gyrodyne/Flowerfield

Youth groups are among the many set to help out with the event.

"I feel this Toy Drive helps teach many valuable lessons to our youth on what it means to be a good citizen in the community, volunteering and helping those in need," Donohue said. "This year we are helping 3 local elementary schools and one middle school and families from the Smithtown Food Pantry. The goal is to make the Holidays special for all the children in our community."

Toy donations can also be dropped off at TD Bank, 621 Lake Ave., St. James, during business hours. Gift cards can be mailed to St. James Holiday Gift & Toy Drive, c/o Celebrate St. James, 459 Lake Ave., St. James, NY 11780.

In the event of bad weather, the event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 5.