Braunstein Collects Thousands of Gifts in Holiday Drives for Kids, Veterans

State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside, said his annual holiday toy and gift drives collected thousands of items for children as well as hundreds of toiletries, candy and pieces of clothing for veterans.

The gifts were donated to the assemblyman's office by churches, synagogues, civic organizations, senior citizen clubs, schools and local residents.

"I was amazed by the overwhelming generosity of my constituents in helping to bring holiday cheer to those in need," Braunstein said of the drives. "Since we received so many donations, we were able to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of needy children as well as hundreds of hospitalized veterans this holiday season."

The assemblyman and his staff delivered toys for children to be distributed by a number of institutions around northeast Queens, including Bayside Kiwanis Club, Cohen Children's Medical Center, QSAC Day School of Whitestone, QSAC Preschool and Early Childhood Center of Douglaston, Ronald McDonald House, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church's toy drive and St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children.

Gifts donated to veterans were given to the St. Albans Community Living Center of the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System and the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans.

Contributors to he drives included Bayside Brownie Troop 4562, Bayside Community Library, Bayside Kiwanis Club, Friends of Fort Totten Parks, Immaculate Conception School, Little Neck-Douglaston American Legion Post 103, M.S. 67, M.S. 158, P.S. 32, P.S. 98, P.S. 169 and Temple Torah of Little Neck.