A woman in the West Village noticed that a toy store was closing and decided to turn the closure into something positive.
Carol Suchman normally donates hundreds of toys as birthday gifts every year for foster children in Brooklyn. When she saw that Hudson Party Store was closing, she contacted the stores owner and proposed to buy the entire store.
“When I saw this toy store, I just realized I could [donate toys] on a grander scale for this one year,” Suchman told NY1 News.
The store had thousands of toys and stuffed animals, and even boxes of school supplies. She donated everything to the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
“I’ve been doing this for many years and we have many generous sponsors,” Antonio Rodriquez, director of special events at the Department of Homeless Services, told NY1 News. “This is the first time anybody every bought out an entire store and donated to the children of shelters.”
Everything was bagged up and labeled for children in different age groups.
“Children is always my focus,” Suchman told NY1 News. “So that’s why, a lot of foster kids get a lot of used things, and I realized a lot of them never had a birthday gift that they actually wanted.”
This year, however, those children will be able to receive a brand new toy from this shop.
“I know everyone can use a gift around the holidays,” Suchman told NY1 News.
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