Sag Harbor Lions Club Launches Holiday Toy Drive

Members of the community are once again being asked to donate new, unwrapped toys to the Sag Harbor Lions Club Holiday Toy Drive.

The drive, co-sponsored by the Village of North Haven and the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry, benefits families served by the food pantry.

Toys can be dropped off until December 16 at the windmill at the foot of Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Drop-off times are Monday through Thursday, from 2 to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.

Toys can also be dropped off at North Haven Village Hall from Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lions Club will also be holding its annual Christmas tree sale at the windmill this year. Proceeds from the tree sale benefit local organizations. Toys can also be left with the volunteers at the tree stand, although there is no requirement to donate a toy when buying a tree.

Terie Diat, a member of the Lions Club and volunteer with the food pantry, said toys will be distributed to families on consecutive Tuesdays, December 10 and December 17, when the pantry holds its regular hours at the First Presbyterian (Old Whalers’) Church.

This is the second year the toy drive has been held, and Diat said the club collected about 300 toys, and one anonymous donor made a large cash donation that allowed the club to purchase a number of gift cards to distribute to families with teenagers.

Diat said clients at the food pantry, whose numbers rise as the cold months arrive and work gets harder to find, were extremely appreciative of the gifts they were able to bring home to their families last year.

During the winter months, the food pantry, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, serves more than 100 families per week, representing approximately 500 family members, including 167 children. To be eligible for the fresh produce, meat, dairy products, eggs and bread the pantry distributes each month, families must live in the 11963 area code.