The holiday season is looking brighter for hundreds of children in Suffolk County, thanks to a toy giveaway organized by The Breakthrough Chapel in Middle Island.
However, the event almost didn’t happen due to an unexpected setback with one of the church’s main partners.
The toy giveaway at the church on Middle Country Road provided around 3,000 toys to roughly 800 children. But, as organizers explained, the event faced a significant challenge when the church encountered an issue with its usual supplier, Toys for Tots.
Each year, The Breakthrough Chapel receives toys from the national Toys for Tots campaign, which is run by the Marine Corps Reserve. This year, however, the church had been registered with the Nassau chapter of Toys for Tots, instead of the Suffolk County chapter. Initially, it appeared that The Breakthrough Chapel would receive no toys at all from the organization.
After a series of back-and-forth discussions, the church did receive around 50 toys from Toys for Tots — far fewer than the usual shipment. However, the local community stepped up to fill the gap, with toy donations pouring in from the Suffolk County Executive's Office, local businesses, and various community organizations.
"The community really came through. They really came through because we would have had no toys," said Bishop E. Edward Robinson II, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support.
In addition to toys, families attending the event also received food to take home and new clothing, ensuring that this holiday season is a little bit brighter for those in need.
Despite reaching out for comment, News 12 has not yet heard back from the Toys for Tots organization regarding The Breakthrough Chapel.