Alert “06880” reader Christy Colasurdo writes:
You covered the incredible effort made by Tom Hofstetter and a few other Westport families to help out families in Staten Island after Sandy. They ended up delivering 8 truckloads of supplies donated by Westporters to Staten Island, Breezy Point, the Rockaways and New York City.
But the story did not end there.
Three of the women involved — Lisa Fierro, Nell Bernegger and Veronica Hofstetter — were so moved after seeing the wreckage on Staten Island, that they could not just walk away.
Now they’re collecting gifts to brighten the holidays of Staten Island teens. That’s not easy, in a season with so many appeals for donations.
Lisa, Nell and Veronica say:
We have learned there is a huge need for toys and holiday gifts for kids 12 to 17 years old. Toys for Tots and other groups focus on kids 11 years old and younger. We want to fill the gap.
Help a hurricane victim this holiday season.
We’re working with the Staten Island Recovery Team. But we have very tight deadlines to get the gifts to Staten Island before the first of 3 holiday celebrations, beginning on December 18.
Our goal is to provide 1,100 new gifts in the $20-$25 range for teens. (No gift cards please!)
Gift ideas include:
- Basketballs, soccer balls, footballs
- Makeup and/or nail polish sets
- Pillow pets (animals only; no characters)
- Pampering and body care gifts
- Teenage/family-targeted games
- Popular books of interest to teens
- Anything else of interest to teenager
Drop-off dates for gifts — unwrapped, please! — are this weekend: December 8 and 9,under the covered area at 8 Brookside Drive, off North Compo.