Rumson DPW Hosts Toy Drive

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By John Burton
RUMSON — Members of the borough’s Department of Public Works are asking for the public’s help so they can help those less fortunate this holiday season.
DPW workers are preparing for their annual toy drive, hoping the public will generously support their efforts on Dec. 9-10.
This year marks the department’s 11th that its members have been collecting toys for underprivileged children.
“We work for the community. They take care of us in this town, in this community, and I think we should always do something to give back and this is one way to do it,” this week explained Larry D’Angelo, who works with the department’s road department.
The toys collected are slated to be donated to the Family and Children’s Services, Long Branch, and the Salvation Army, located in Red Bank, according to D’Angelo.
Over the years the project has become fairly successful, reaching a high mark in recent years of collecting approximately 1,000 toys.
D’Angelo said he and his co-workers are hoping to surpass that milestone this year.
They are asking for new, unwrapped toys, for any age, for either boys or girls. Donations can be dropped off on Friday from 4-7 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the DPW facility, River Road. Employees will be on hand to collect them and offer hot chocolate and coffee and candy canes for those who stop by, as well as possibly a raffle or two, as department members have done in the past. Last year, D’Angelo said, they raffled off a gift card from a local restaurant and Head Chef cookware sets, geared for children with adult supervision.