Annual drive seeks donations
By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
Christmas is a time of gift giving.
Gifts are left under the tree, and, especially for young families, it is a time of celebration and excitement.
However, for the less fortunate this winter, the absence of money threatens to prevent some children from experiencing the joy of receiving special, heartfelt gifts.
That’s where the Toys 4 KIDS toy drive comes in to make a difference.
For the 12th consecutive year, K & B Tattooing has joined forces with the Hightstown Borough PBA Local 283 to run the Toys 4 Kids drive.
The Hightstown PBA began the drive in 1994.
And, over the years, donations of new, unwrapped toys have poured in, highlighting that the toy drive has had an impact on the community.
"In 12 years, we have collected 7,363 toys, so far this year there are 227 at the tattoo shop already,” said Joe “Mac” McEneaney, manager at the tattoo parlor at 140 S. Main St.
The toy drive runs until Dec. 16.
Noteworthy, the success of the drive relies on the generosity of public donations.
Toy drop off points from the drive are at the following locations: the Hightstown Police Department — at its new location at 413 Mercer Street; First Constitutional Bank in Hightstown; Old Hights Print Shop in Hightstown; Tavern on the Lake in Hightstown; Cranberry Manor Exxon; Wells Fargo in Hightstown and the East Windsor Police Department — in addition to the tattoo parlor.
This Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., the annual Toys 4 Kids Christmas get together will take place at Tavern on the Lake, at which time toy donations will be accepted, McEneaney said.
"As always, we will have a prize table and a donation give away with this year’s grand prize of Devils (vs.) Flyers tickets,” Mr. McEneaney stated.
Said Hightstown Borough Police Department Sergeant Mark Niro, “I came up with the idea in ‘94 (for the toy drive) and we’ve been doing it ever since.
In 2001, he said they collected so many toys that they were able to donate 300 toys to victims of 9/11 along with providing another 300 toys for kids in the borough itself.
A couple days before Christmas, this year beginning around Dec. 21, policemen will take police cars and bring the toys to the children door to door.
K & B Tattooing donates the majority of the toys it receives between the Hightstown and East Windsor police departments. Additional toys are donated elsewhere.
Sgt. Niro said the PBA works with churches and housing organizations to figure out what families are in need of Christmas toys.
"It’s a difficult thing because people don’t want to admit they need (the toys),” Sgt. Niro explained.
"The best way to get on the list is to contact me,” he said.
Mr. Niro can be reached at 609-490-5100, ext. 525.
"Your name stays confidential . . . but we’re going to help. We understand what the times are like, and that’s why we do this,” Sgt. Niro said. “We want to see every kid smile and that is more important than anything else.”
Additionally, the toy drive organizers are hosting a Wrap-a-thon at Tavern on the Lake between noon and 4 p.m. on Dec. 17.
Sgt. Niro noted that they are looking for volunteers to help wrap presents that day.