Rebecca Chusid Holiday Toy Drive
Friday, December 04, 2009
Sometimes, the holidays are a good excuse to take stock of just how good we have it. That's the case for a Westport family who turned the sad death of their beloved 15-month-old daughter, Rebecca, 15 years ago, into an uplifting celebration of thanks. Through the Rebecca Chusid Holiday Toy Drive, what started in 1995 as a way to turn a heartbreaking holiday into a happy Hanukkah was morphed into a major annual toy drive that reaches out to more than 1,000 children from Bridgeport to Brooklyn.
Starting after Halloween each year, the Chusids, along with The Conservative Synagogue, The Learning Community, Temple Israel, Temple Beth El, Dynamic Martial Art, Witchy Poo (Wilton), Westport Music Center, Westport Hadassah, Temple Shalom, Propper Chiropractic, Pinnacle Fitness, and Infinity Info Systems (NY) all put out boxes (generously donated by Mitchell's of Westport) to collect toys and raise money for gift cards through the holidays. Unwrapped gifts, gift cards and cash donations for children ages 0-18 years are gratefully accepted through December 18th. Checks, made out to The Conservative Synagogue, 30 Hillspoint Road, Westport, are also accepted.
Hundreds of toys are collected and distributed to several organizations including: The Bachrach Center, Westport Health and Human Services, Norwalk Hospital Water Street Clinic, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport Jewish Family Services, Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, Trinity Productions, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Toy Closets Program, Americares, Kids Care Clubs, Danbury Resource Center, Hole-In-The-Wall Gang, The Children's Inn At The National Institute of Health, The Boys and Girls Club of Bridgeport and the Heart to Heart Foundation.
Please consider joining the Chusid family and providing toys to children in need this holiday season.
If you'd like to become involved with the toy drive, please contact Monica Chusid at 203-226-4480 or
