Richard Gardner Jr Memorial Toy Drive

Thank You to EVERYONE for Making the last 30 Years Special

It is with bittersweet emotion that we announce the upcoming 30th Annual Richard Gardner Jr. Memorial Toy Drive will be our final toy drive. Since Christmas of 1995, we have put our heart and soul into making this toy drive into what is has become. A family-run, non-profit organization, we ran the entire toy drive out of our home, every single year, without a hitch. Throughout the years, we’ve had the most incredible support from our family, friends and even strangers. From helping to deliver toys to the sick and underprivileged children, to helping us unload and load toys back into storage, and everything in between, we are thankful for every single one of you. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but as a family, we know it’s the right time. We began in 1995 with Joe Frosch and the 123 Precinct giving out 40 toys to 40 kids, to collecting and donating over 3,000 toys for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and steadily each year, donating at least 2,500 toys to sick and underprivileged children throughout the five boroughs. We’ve hosted 30 years of our “Bar Nights” with our local bars and brought all of our supporters together to celebrate Richie’s life and help us continue his legacy of making “children smile”.

Without a doubt, Richie is proud and will always be proud of the legacy he left. We stand humbly proud that we’ve been blessed to be able to do what we’ve done each year. And we THANK ALL of YOU, near and far for always supporting our organization. We will be sure to go out with a bang, in typical toy drive fashion. In lieu of toys this year, if you’d like to donate, we will be accepting monetary donations as we will be donating proceeds to various organizations.

About Our Toy Drive

In memory of a young Police Officer we have been donating toys at Christmas time to sick and under-privileged children since 1995. We search for those in need or families having difficult times and try to make their holidays a little happier.

Since 1995, our organization has held Christmas parties with sick and under-privileged children, donating thousand's of toys.

Every year we reach out to countless of under-privileged families, sick children in the hospital on Christmas Eve, under-privileged day care centers, children without families (children services), organizations assisting families of domestic violence, under-privileged churches and children who have parents that are unfortunately sick.

All of this would not have been possible without our generous donations, people throughout the boroughs who have graciously donated generously to our organization. Please visit our Past Events page to see some of our pictures. Thank You.

Christmas is a time for bringing a smile to a child’s face. Unfortunately, there are some people who spend so little time on this earth to experience such pleasures.

In memory of Richard Gardner Jr., a New York City Police Officer who was accidentally killed in 1995, we are reaching out to you, for children who need us at Christmas time. Richard was a twenty four year old officer who was dedicated to his family and his career. If there was anyone who didn’t want to see a child go without, it was Richard.

In making this toy drive a success for yet another year, we need your help. If you would like to make a donation please contact us at rgtoydrive@gmail.com

In advance, the family of Richard Gardner Jr., would like to thank you, not only for your kindness and generosity, but your help in keeping his memory alive for yet another year.

The Richard Gardner Jr. Memorial Toy Drive has been running since 1995. After Officer Gardner passed away, his family began collecting toys in his name for sick and underprivileged children throughout Staten Island and Manhattan. Over the years, we’ve donated thousands of toys and we will continue to keep these children smiling. Our toys have been distributed to hospitals, housing facilities, underprivileged day care centers, underprivileged families, children of the men and women in the Armed Forces and families of disasters.

Remembering, Police Officers, Matthew Dziergowski and Monica Jesselli of the 123rd Precinct, and Gerard Carter of South Beach Housing, all of our Fallen Heroes and David Malone.