STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Christmas came early for families at Win (formerly Women In Need)’s Audre Lorde residence Monday as the organization partnered with nonprofit Metro United Sports to distribute toys to children living in the Tompkinsville shelter.
The toy distribution event was part of a two-week toy drive led by Metro United Sports. Local Catholic schools, including St. Peter’s Boys High School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, Moore Catholic and Our Lady of Good Counsel, helped push the effort by placing large donation boxes for community members to contribute gifts, ultimately collecting hundreds of toys for children at the shelter.
Bobby Glennerster, a New York City firefighter and CEO of Metro United Sports — a nonprofit that supports youth athletes while teaching the importance of giving back — said the organization wanted to get involved with Win “right away” after gaining nonprofit status a few months ago.
He said the nonprofit was inspired by his own experience of losing a parent to cancer, when his Catholic school community helped cover tuition and sports costs so he wouldn’t have to uproot his life.
The toy distribution event brought together Win staff and student athletes from Metro United Sports, who were on hand to support the event and help make the holiday season brighter for families at the shelter.
The room at Win’s Audre Lorde shelter was decorated for the toy distribution event, with silver, white and blue accents and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.
A table in the center of the room was decorated with silver, white, and blue decorations, adding to the festive holiday atmosphere during the event on Monday.Sydney Maldonado
A table adorned with seasonal decorations added to the festive atmosphere for families and children. Breakfast items, including bagels, muffins, donuts and coffee, were offered for families to enjoy.
Wrapped gifts sat ready for distribution during the holiday toy event at Win’s Audre Lorde’s shelter in Staten Island on Monday.Sydney Maldonado
Families shopped around the room where hundreds of toys were lined up by age group, from infants to teens, with a variety of games, sports equipment and small personal items available.
Some of the toys at the toy event on Monday that families could choose from including board games like Monopoly, Uno Spin, Guess Who?, action figures, Nerf toys, and Barbie dolls.Sydney Maldonado
Each family was allowed to take two toys per child and the distribution ultimately served 200 families staying at the shelter.
Student athletes from St. Peter’s Boys High School and New York Dynasty said participating in the event was exciting and rewarding and they would participate in similar events in the future.
Metro Sports United CEO Bobby Glennerster pictured with student atheletes from local schools like St. Peter’s Boys High School and New York Dynasty during the holiday toy distribution event at Win’s Audre Lorde shelter on Monday.Sydney Maldonado
Events like the toy distribution mean a lot to families staying at Win shelters, Joseph Memoly, chief operating officer at Win, said.
“When families come to us, generally, it’s in the middle of the night after spending 24 hours or more in PATH, the intake center for DHS [Department of Homeless Services]. Most of the time, kids don’t have toys, so it’s very important, and we want to make sure that the kids, whatever they celebrate, have a good holiday,” he said.
Memoly explained that families often arrive at the shelter with very few belongings, as they can’t bring everything with them, making events like the toy giveaway especially meaningful.
Morgan Ortiz, vice president of the transitional house at Win, said the event and the partnership with Metro United Sports brought joy to families staying at the shelter.
She emphasized that events like these leave a lasting impact, especially for families experiencing homelessness during vulnerable times.
Ortiz said it’s important to understand that “nobody chooses to be homeless” and that families at Win are navigating numerous obstacles during a difficult time in their lives.
She added that the organization provides on-site social workers, case managers, 24-hour security, maintenance and recreational programs that help children and adults alike as well as wraparound services in coordination with outside providers to support families after they leave the shelter.
Win touts itself as the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness in New York City and across the nation, operating 16 shelters and more than 450 units of supportive housing.
In the past year, Win served nearly 12,400 people, including more than 6,700 children and helped almost 1,000 families, transition out of shelter into homes of their own, according to Win.
For the families and children at Win’s Audre Lorde shelter, the event offered more than toys — it helped ignite the holiday spirit during a challenging time.