Off Broadway League Announces 2024 Toy Drive
Posted by: Official_Press_Release 01:03 pm EST 12/02/24

THE OFF-BROADWAY LEAGUE
ANNOUNCES 2024 TOY DRIVE WILL BENEFIT

HUDSON FAMILY RESIDENCES
& HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS

MIDTOWN SHELTERS THAT HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES
TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING

DROP OFF A NEW TOY AT ANY PARTICIPATING THEATER
AND GET A FREE TICKET TO AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW

ORDER A NEW TOY ONLINE
SHIP IT TO THE THEATER CENTER
AND GET A FREE TICKET TO AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW

Toys donated to the Off Broadway League's annual toy drive under The Theater Center Christmas Tree


(New York, NY) – The Off-Broadway League today announced that its annual Off-Broadway Toy Drive has begun and will benefit children at Westhab-Hudson Family Residence and Homes For The Homeless (HFH) two midtown shelters that help homeless families transition into permanent housing. Last year, over 850 toys were donated. This year, the Off Broadway League has set a goal of securing 1000 presents for kids aged six months to 18 years old. Toys can be donated by bringing them to a participating theater or by purchasing a new toy worth $10 or more on Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com (or any other online retailer) and shipping it directly to Off-Broadway Toy Drive, c/o The Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10019. offbroadwaytoydrive.com

As a new study from the Advocates for Children of New York reports, over 146,000 NYC students were homeless last year, equating to about one in eight children citywide.

Westhab-Hudson Family Residence opened in October 2023. It provides a wide range of services that address the needs of the families in our care such as case management, social work services, advocacy and housing related services as well as employment search and job readiness counselling. Ongoing workshops are also provided throughout our programs including fun related activities where the families have an opportunity to relax; we work hard to instil a sense of normalcy.

Homes For The Homeless (HFH) operates shelters for families experiencing homelessness in NYC. Our family residences are more than just a place to sleep. Families can make the most of their stay through accessing an array of onsite programs. Many of these programs are also available to people living in the local community. The organization's goal is to have a positive impact so families can thrive long after they leave the shelters. On any given day, 720 families with 780 children reside in their six family residences in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

"There's nothing like seeing a child's eyes light up with surprise and excitement as they unwrap a present," says Tierra Gunther, Partnerships Manager for Homes for the Homeless (HFH), which operates several shelters for families with children, including the Clinton Family Residence in Hell's Kitchen. "We are so appreciative of each and every gift donation as they add to the festive environment we try to create for the entire family during the holiday season."

"Our mission at Hudson is to continue to provide normalcy in the lives of the parents and the children we serve although they are in shelter," says Kenneth McMillan, Director of Social Services at Westhab Inc. "Hudson Family Residence is forever grateful for our community partner, The Off Broadway League Toy Drive. Last year's donations were extremely instrumental in providing toys to our children who may have gone without a gift for Christmas. To see a child's face turn from a frown to a smile is so rewarding, especially for parents who are not able to provide gifts for their children on Christmas."

Donate a new unwrapped toy worth $10 or more and you will receive a voucher for a free ticket to a participating Off-Broadway show of your choice. Those donating a toy through Amazon, Walmart or any other online company should e-mail the confirmation to offbroadwaytoydrive@gmail.com and in return, you will be emailed a voucher enabling you to redeem one free ticket to any participating Off-Broadway show in 2023-2024.

Participating shows include Perfect Crime, The Office! A Musical Parody, Friends! The Musical Parody, Singfeld! The Unauthorized Musical Parody, The Light and The Dark (the life and times of Artemisia Gentileschi), Amerikin, Gazillion Bubble Show, Titanique, Little Shop of Horrors, and more will be announced soon.

The Theater Center will also accept in person drop offs for those in the local area. Toys can be dropped off on Mondays through Fridays between 10:00AM – 6:00PM or on Saturday and Sunday between 10:00AM - 8:00 PM.

Here's how it works. Purchase any of the following online:

· Brand new toys for children ages newborn to 18 years old
· Books and other related materials are welcomed to in English, Spanish, French and Chinese
· Diapers, baby wipes, and baby bottles are acceptable if they are brand new
· Gift cards are welcomed for establishments such as McDonalds, Target, Amazon,
Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, 5 Below, and Domino's - $25 maximum

SHIP IT to Off-Broadway Toy Drive c/o The Theater Center, 210 West 50th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10019

E-MAIL your purchase confirmation to: offbroadwaytoydrive@gmail.com and a voucher will be sent back to you within 3 business days.

Vouchers have no expiration date.

For more information, and to see the growing list of participating shows visit: offbroadwaytoydrive.com



Riley Robustelli will fiercely guard every donated toy under the tree.
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