Sunshine Toy Drive Brings Holiday Joy in Dix Hills

The eighth annual Sunshine Toy Drive brought many generous contributions and dedicated work by volunteers.

The Holiday Toy Drive for those in need was the idea of 16-year-old Victoria Plumitallo of Dix Hills, who began the drive eight years ago with the assistance of her parents, Mike and Hope Plumitallo. Derived from her nickname “Sunshine,” Victoria’s idea to help the less fortunate grew into the “Sunshine Toy Drive” hosted by the Dix Hills Fire Department.

The firehouse was turned into a toy store, where children and their families were assigned a personal shopper to help them select gifts, which were wrapped by volunteers. Friends, family, firefighters and local volunteers all helped a hand to the toy drive.

More than 1,000 children were assisted by the drive with holiday gifts this season. Special thanks to the Dix Hills, Melville, Greenlawn, Huntington Manor fire departments, Park Shore Day Camp, Duffy and Duffy Law firm, Bob Elliott, Crown Advertising, Half Hollow Hills School District and Spuntino’s Restaurant for their support and generosity.

Photos by Steve Silverman

1. Victoria Plumitallo, center, with her parents Mike and Hope and volunteers at the Sunshine Toy Drive at the Dix Hills Fire Department.
2. Victoria Plumitallo, center, with her dad Mike, left, and mom Hope, at right, at the Sunshine Toy Drive.
3. Volunteers wrap toys at the Sunshine Toy Drive at the Dix Hills Fire Department.
4. Victoria Plumitallo, busy at work at the Sunshine Toy Drive at the Dix Hills Fire Department.

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