Monserrate collects 1,500 toys for children

City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate’s office collected more than 1,500 toys as part of two recent toy drives and the presents will be given out to children throughout the borough.
“Bringing people together, especially children, in the spirit of community, has always been very important to me,” Monserrate said. “It is even more important to do this during the holiday season, particularly to needy families in our area.”
The first toy drive took place on Saturday, December 15 at St. Paul’s Church in Corona and the other one took place the following day at St. Gabriel’s Church in East Elmhurst. Galloway Enterprises and Gotham City Mortgage sponsored the drives.
“Passing legislation is important but so is building happy and healthy communities through events such as these,” Monserrate said. “How wonderful it is for a child to receive an extra holiday gift along with his or her siblings and friends. Well, probably not as great as being able to do this for them.”