By Nathan Duke
State Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) said the struggling economy has not prevented residents in her district from being generous after a Veterans Day gift drive she organizes annually brought in more donations during the past few months than it had the past few years.
Carrozza is in the process of handing out gifts from the drive, which has since closed for donations. But the assemblywoman’s holiday toy drive will continue to accept gifts through Dec. 17 and her annual Valentine’s for Vets drive will kick off in January.
“Despite this difficult economic period, our community generously contributed more donations this year than were collected during the last several gift drives combined,” she said. “It was extremely heartwarming to witness the outpouring of support from my constituents for our hospitalized heroes.”
Carrozza began the veterans drive 17 years ago while she was in law school. This year hundreds of handwritten cards, candy, new clothing, puzzles, playing cards and toiletries were collected from borough churches, synagogues, civic organizations, schools, senior citizen clubs and residents.
On Nov. 10, the assemblywoman delivered gifts to hospitalized men and women at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System Community Living Center and the New York State Veterans Home, both of which are in St. Albans. Donations to Carrozza’s office were so plentiful that the assemblywoman will make a second trip to the veterans homes this month.
The drive ended earlier this month, but Carrozza will begin to collect donations for veterans early next year for her Valentine’s for Vets drive.
Carrozza’s toy drive, which she founded 13 years ago, will continue to collect gifts for Queens children through Dec. 17. All toys must be new and unwrapped.
In 2008, Carrozza’s drives raised more than 1,000 toys for borough children and clothing for an estimated 600 veterans.
Donations can be dropped off at the Bayside Allergy & Asthma Family Center at 38-21 Bell Blvd. or at M&S Italian Food Specialists at 34-23 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Bayside.
For more information about the drive, call 718-357-3588.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
