“We’re Not Turning Anybody Away”: Huntington Steps Up After Toys Stolen From Warehouse Before Christmas

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — After hundreds of toys meant for Long Island children were stolen just days before Christmas, the Town of Huntington, Empire Toyota, and local community partners moved quickly to replace gifts for families who feared they’d have nothing to put under the tree.

The reported theft occurred Saturday at a Toys of Hope warehouse location on East Second Street in Huntington Station, according to information confirmed by police. The toys had been left outside, unsecured and under a tarp, according to police.

By Tuesday evening, families were filing into the Huntington Tri-CYA on New York Avenue, where tables and carts rolled through what looked and felt like a pop-up holiday shop — an emergency version of the larger “Project Toy” program that Tri-CYA and Family Service League run each year.

Kevin Thorbourne, the Town of Huntington’s director of human services, said the town’s response came together almost immediately after the story became public, going from idea to action in roughly a day and a half.

“Mike Brown from Empire called me up at seven o’clock that morning and said, ‘Let’s do something,’” Thorbourne said.

Thorbourne said the goal was twofold: get gifts into children’s hands quickly while also keeping the spending local.

“Mike gave me his credit card, and I spent about $7,000 on toys and gift cards for kids,” Thorbourne said, adding that the group prioritized local purchases. “We bought a lot of this stuff from local businesses in Huntington Village, which was important — to Mike Brown, to the supervisor, and to the town board.”

Thorbourne credited Town Supervisor Ed Smyth for immediately backing the plan, noting that the Huntington Manor Fire Department and Suffolk County police from the Second Precinct also came out to support the replacement drive.

“I called Tri-CYA, and the town supervisor said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Thorbourne said. “That’s one thing I can say about the Huntington community — when adversity happens, everybody comes together.”

The event’s promise to families wasn’t limited to pre-registration. Thorbourne said the town and its partners were determined to keep the focus on children getting something for Christmas, even as supplies in certain age categories began to run low.

“Parents called, signed up, and when they started coming in, we weren’t turning anybody away,” Thorbourne said. “We gave them toys and gift cards. Everybody deserves to have a good holiday.”

Inside the Tri-CYA, Executive Director Debbie Rimler said the organization leaned on a familiar system to make the emergency giveaway feel organized and dignified for parents.

“We basically made a mini Project Toy,” Rimler said. “We used our system so it could feel seamless for families.”

Rimler said Project Toy — the long-running holiday program operated by Family Service League and Tri-CYA — is built around allowing parents to choose gifts that match their children’s interests.

“The thing about it is it’s a beauty,” Rimler said. “If you’re a parent, you know what your child likes. Instead of being handed something generic, parents are choosing — arts and crafts, sports, board games — what they know their child will love.”

Rimler said the scale of Project Toy is far larger than the emergency replacement effort, underscoring how many families rely on local holiday support each year.

“Family Service League and Tri-Community and Youth Agency have been doing Project Toy for the last 30 years,” she said. “We sorted about 6,000 toys and served more than 1,061 local families.”

Even outside the holidays, Rimler said Tri-CYA operates as a year-round hub for youth and families.

“We’re a youth center — we’re here for the community six days a week,” she said. “We have an emergency food pantry six days a week, activities for kids, and we provide meals.”

For families affected by the theft, the replacement drive carried a simple message.

“We want these kids to get what they asked for,” Rimler said.