Agencies, businesses team up for Toys for Tots

By Tessa Roy
Posted 11/29/16

By TESSA ROY The holiday season is a happy one for so many people across Rhode Island. But some cannot afford to celebrate the same way many of us do. That's why organizations across the state are trying to make the season a little brighter for

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Agencies, businesses team up for Toys for Tots

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The holiday season is a happy one for so many people across Rhode Island. But some cannot afford to celebrate the same way many of us do. That's why organizations across the state are trying to make the season a little brighter for underprivileged children by doing Toys for Tots collections.

Toys for Tots, run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, collects new, unwrapped toys to be distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community where they were collected.

Just a few organizations collecting toys for the organization include the Corvette Club of Rhode Island, Brewed Awakenings, Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House and Wireless Zone.

"I'm a Marine until I die, so I'll do this until I can't anymore," said Jerry Picozzi of the Corvette Club.

Picozzi said he and his wife Pat, longtime members of the club celebrating the classic American car and that leads many charitable efforts, have been spearheading the club's Toys for Tots drive for at least eight years, and the project gets more successful every time.

"We have gone from getting maybe 40 to 50 toys a year to getting over 400 last year. In monetary value that's close to $5,000 to $6,000 in toys," he said.

This year, the club decided not to keep an official count as it was "kind of nerve-wracking," said Picozzi. But he does know that just from club donations, the effort has so far raised $1,100, not counting the toys they've donated. Members bought 67 toys with that money and have already delivered 132 toys to be distributed.

"I'm very happy and proud to do this. We're a very generous club," said Picozzi. "We all like doing it."

Picozzi also likes that the toys are donated to children locally in Rhode Island, something Wireless Zone Communications manager Michelle Correia said is important to her company.

"We believe it's very, very important to support local communities," she said.

The Wireless Zone system, founded in 1988 as "The Car Phone Store," has become the nation's largest wireless retail franchiser and was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine. Each store is independently owned and operated, and exclusively offers Verizon Wireless products and services. The system has been honored with Verizon's "Best Customer Service" award for five consecutive years and with Toys for Tots is reaching out to give back to beyond those who purchase their products.

Correia said all 330 Wireless Zone stores, nine in Rhode Island, will be collecting toys for their local communities and aim to put smiles on the faces of as many children as possible.

"We have no specific goals or preconceived notions but are just hoping to give a merry Christmas and happy holidays for as many kids as we can," Correia said."

Iggy's has done the drive for five years and has a promotion attached. Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy of $5 or more value to the restaurant's drive can get a free bowl of chowder, three clam cakes and a small fountain drink. But owner Dave Gravino said some people don’t even take the free food - they just come to donate.

“It’s a give back for us,” he said. “It’s been a really good program for us and it’s nice to get everybody involved.”

Those wishing to donate to the Corvette Club's drive, which ends December 6, can do so by dropping donations off at their office on 110 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. Iggy's will collect until December 11 and is located at 889 Oakland Beach Avenue. Brewed Awakenings has locations in Warwick at 1316 Bald Hill Road and in Johnston at 1395 Atwood Avenue. Wireless Zone locations throughout Rhode Island are as follows: 579 Atwells Avenue Suite 106 in Providence; 25 Airport Road in Warwick; 40 Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston; 3030 East Main Road in Portsmouth; 180 County Road in Barrington; 575 Taunton Avenue in East Providence; 599 Kingstown Road in Wakefield; 76 Gate Road in North Kingstown and 1700 Mendon Road in Cumberland. Warwick Mall will also partake in the Toys for Tots effort, hosting a telethon with Bob Venturi and other "local celebrities" from 5 to 9 p.m. on December 6.

The Warwick Mall event is special to Bob Venturi, as he understands what it is like for many of these children. His father died when he was young, and he had eight other siblings. He remembered one Christmas, the only thing he received under the tree was a pair of his brother’s dirty Converse all star sneakers. Though it was the thought that counted, it hurt to see the more affluent children playing with their new things next door, including the one his own age who had a new Mickey Mantle glove.

“He got all kinds of toys and I got nothing,” Venturi recalled. Now, he’s taking his experience and turning it into a positive way of giving back for other children.

The Mall’s event, headlined by Venturi and other “local celebrities,” is a huge undertaking showcased on COX 15 and Verizon channel 34. Local businesses and organizations like Chelo’s, Iggy’s, and Lynn St. Germain-Lundh from the Sgt. Brian R. St. Germain Foundation donate toys and bring food to be shared, and magicians and musicians will provide entertainment.

For all other donation box locations, check out Toys for Tots' website, toysfortots.org, to find a full list of locations. Most collections are open through the first week of December, so check with your preferred location to find out the best times to donate.

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