Bonanza of gifts at Toys for Tots telethon

By Tessa Roy
Posted 12/8/16

By TESSA ROY The only way to speak to Bob Venturini on Tuesday night was to climb up on the stage where he'd be standing for four hours. Venturini once again hosted the Toys for Tots telethon at Warwick Mall and was having the time of his life. Look at"

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Bonanza of gifts at Toys for Tots telethon

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The only way to speak to Bob Venturini on Tuesday night was to climb up on the stage where he’d be standing for four hours. Venturini once again hosted the Toys for Tots telethon at Warwick Mall and was having the time of his life.

“Look at this!” he said, gesturing to the mountains of donated toys in front of him. There was barely enough room on the stage for the boxes full of everything from dolls, sports equipment, stuffed animals, art sets and even handmade wooden toys.

Families and businesses – including but definitely not limited to Chelo’s restaurants, Iggy’s in Warwick, the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Pawtucket Boys Club – from across the state came to the event to donate toys they’d collected.

Area schools also showed their support with many young students presenting Venturini with toys. Some children said they’d collected toys at their birthday parties instead of receiving presents for themselves.

“I didn’t think it was going to be this busy,” said Marine Sgt. Kyle White, as the line to donate grew longer.

The Marines will have a lot of work to do come distribution time. White said the distribution of toys goes through the Cranston Street Armory, where they are sorted and then shipped off to the families and organizations that request them. Venturini believes children usually get two or three toys each.

Familiar faces showed up to help with the event. Susan Johnston, who’s from Cranston and spent 15 years living in LA, was excited to return to help Venturini out again. She was glad to see so many individuals and businesses participating and that there was nowhere else she’d want to be that night.

“I have flown back every holiday for the past four years to help Bob with Toys for Tots,” she said. “It speaks to what Christmas spirit is: helping others.”

This was the 23rd year Venturini has run the telethon in memory of his father and brother, Victor.

Robert Black, “New England’s Premier Elvis Presley Tribute Artist,” returned as musical director for the 14th year in full Elvis regalia.

“We try to get the Christmas spirit going for everybody. Of course, it goes without saying that it’s a great cause all around,” he said. “We’ve become one of the largest in the country for getting toys and it’s a wonderful event. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Though the volunteers don’t focus too much on numbers, Black said the telethon usually brings in 80,000 to 85,000 toys between individual donations and drop-offs from businesses that did collections. Venturini emphasized that the toys all are distributed locally, which is the way he wants it.

“These toys are going to help a lot of kids in Rhode Island. We're happy about that,” he said.

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