Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein (D-Bayside) wrapped up his office’s 9^th Annual Holiday Gift Drive for veterans and needy and hospitalized children. Once again, thousands of new toys for children, as well as hundreds of items for veterans, including new clothing, candy, toiletries, and puzzles, were donated by 19 schools, numerous civic and senior organizations, and several hundred local residents.

"It is very heartwarming to witness the amazing generosity of Northeast Queens residents who have continued to bring holiday cheer to those in need year after year. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our community and our local schools for making these gift drives such a success. Since we received so many donations, we were able to bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of hospitalized veterans and thousands of needy children this holiday season," said Assemblyman Braunstein.

"Additionally, I want to thank Community Board 11 and Dr. William M. Duke for their continuous support for our Holiday Gift Drive," said Assemblyman Braunstein.

Assemblyman Braunstein provided toys to numerous institutions and charitable programs, including: 4 Kids in Need drive for homeless families; QSAC Day School of Whitestone; QSAC Preschool & Early Childhood Center of Douglaston; Queens Chronicle 25^th Annual Toy Drive; Ronald McDonald House; Sacred Heart Church Toy Drive; St. Mary’s Hospital for Children; Transition Domestic Violence Center; and the United States Army, which received its 25,000th toy donation over the last 9 years from Assemblyman Braunstein's Holiday Gift Drive for the children of deployed military personnel from Fort Totten and other local reserve bases.

All donations to the Veterans' Gift Drive were delivered on December 20, 2019, by Assemblyman Braunstein and his staff, along with students from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, to the St. Albans VA Community Living Center and the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans.

Among the schools and community organizations that contributed to this drive were:

Bayside Village Business Improvement District, Beech Hills Shareholders, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bridge View Nursing Home, Deepdale CARES NORC, Friends of Fort Totten Parks, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association, Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, IS 25, Jefferson Democratic Club, MS 158, MS 294, PS 32, PS 41, PS 98, PS 107, PS 115, PS 159, PS 169, PS 184, PS 203, PS 209, PS 221, PS 811, Queens Public Library at Bayside, Queensboro Hill Community Church, The Summit School Upper School, Vincent’s Opticians, and the William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School.