State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr’s Holiday Toy Drive met with both new and long-time donors in another successful season.
The senator and his crew made stops in eight Cape Ann and North Shore communities and to collect donations of unwrapped toys, gift cards and money for local charities to boost their efforts to bring holiday cheer to local children.
The Cape Ann Holiday Toy Drive was joined by Gloucester businessman Sal Anwar, owner of Richdale’s in East Gloucester, a new member to its donor family. He presented a total $5,000 in three checks to Tarr with $3,000 going to The Open Door and $1,000 each going to Pathways for Children and Action Inc.
The Cape Ann Savings Bank presented a check for $3,000 to the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund, a program run by local nonprofits Wellspring, Pathways and Action, which supports children in the community by providing gifts for local families.
When the toy drive arrived in Byfield, it stopped at the Tyler-Nelson home to collect toys for Cape Ann Kids.
“We needed a box truck to pick up all the toys,” volunteer Teddy Costa said. “The box truck to collect the toys was donated by Taylor Hedges of Gloucester Rental and he also joined the day to help collect.”
More information on the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund is available at capeannkids.org. Donations, with checks made out to Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund may be mailed care of Action Inc., 180 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
A video of the full Holiday Toy Drive and more information about it may be found at northshoretoydrive.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.