Toy Drive Collections for Drop-Off Toy Donations In and Around Beacon

Pictured here is the 2018 toy collection at Beacon Pilates.
Photo Credit: Beacon Pilates and A Little Beacon Blog

Last Updated: 12/5/2019

Every year, community organizations fire up toy drives to help donate to kids in need. If you’re looking to donate toys to these drives, it’s best to mark your calendar for just before Thanksgiving, as that’s when these opportunities start opening up - some are even as early as October, like Toys for Tots. It’s good to get an early start too with Adopt-a-Family programs, which require more attention to detail in terms of what kind of toys you are purchasing for which family member. So mark your calendar for mid-November to return to this list to get a head start! And subscribe to our newsletter to get early advance notice.

If you missed a toy deadline and really want to give, consider a donation to the organization the toy is being collected for instead.

Things to know about Toy Drive Collections:

• Wish Lists: Generally, the organization provides guidance on what type of gift to give. They know their kids and what they need or want.

• New: Toys need to be new and in original packaging.

• Usually Unwrapped: Usually the Wish List will ask for unwrapped toys.

• No Guns or Other Violent Toys: Even if your kids love it, there is extra sensitivity for these kids.

BEACON PILATES

Beacon Pilates is collecting new toys for Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie.
Kids: 80 kids live in 11 facilities, ages newborn to 21 years
Wish List: Click here for the wish list and gift guidance. Juliet, the owner of Beacon Pilates, also has a list of individual wish list items. Email info@beaconpilates.com for more specific recommendations.
Location Drop-Off: Beacon Pilates, 18 West Main St., Beacon, NY (near Brett’s Hardware)
Times: 9 am to 9 pm
Deadline: Monday, December 16, 2019
The Children’s Home is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment that improves lives and empowers at-risk children and families in the Hudson Valley and surrounding communities. The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie provides residential care on the main campus in Poughkeepsie, in agency boarding homes or group homes off campus and apartments in the community. On any given day, over 90 children receive services in one of the home’s programs.

The STUDIO @ BEACON

The Studio @ Beacon is collecting new toys for Toys For Tots.
Location Drop-Off: The Studio @ Beacon, 301 Main St., Beacon, NY (next to Royal Crepes)
Deadline: Go now!
The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. In order to better execute the program, in 1991 the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps.

BEACON’S SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army of Beacon is collecting toys via their “Angel Tree” at two locations with Wish Tags. Says Captain Leilani Alarcon: “We have toy wishes, and usually also like to get a couple of warm outfits, since most of the kids that participate are needy and their parents can’t afford to buy coats and boots, and such. Everything desired is on the tag. Wherever the tag is picked up, is a drop-off location, or people can bring them directly to our location in Beacon - the church. My email and cell information are on the tags for people to arrange drop-offs at our building.”
Kids: Captain Leilani Alarcon described to us the types of children they reach with this toy drive: “Most of the kids for our toy drive are from low-income housing (Tompkins Terrace), as well as needy families that have come all the way from Hopewell and Poughkeepsie because they missed sign-in dates at the Poughkeepsie Salvation Army. Kids also are sent from Social Services or from our Food Pantry Assistance for Families here in the church as well. We have decided not to set an age range, since most older children get forgotten by most programs, so we have kids from 0 to 16.“
Wish List: Select a tag from the Angel Tree. It will have an exact gif suggestion.
Location Drop-Offs:
Planet Fitness in Wappingers Falls: 1572 U.S. 9, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Hilton Garden at Fishkill: 25 Westage Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524
Salvation Army Church in Beacon: 372 Main St., Beacon, NY (drop-off only, the Angel Trees are at the above locations). The main entrance of the church is actually behind it, by their parking lot off of Fishkill Avenue. Tuesdays and Thursdays are best for dropping off toys or bringing a donation to their Food Pantry (even year-round), as that is when their receptionist is there. Or, you can email Captain Leilani Alarcon at Leilani.Alarcon@USE.SalvationArmy.Org to make arrangements for other days.
Deadline: TBA

LIBBY FUNERAL HOME

Libby Funeral Home is collecting stuffed stockings for Stockings For Soldiers.
Location Drop-Off: Libby Funeral Home, 55 Teller Ave., Beacon, NY
Deadline: TBA
If filling stockings brings you joy during the holiday season, and so does giving the stockings to someone who isn’t expecting them, then this holiday initiative is for you. Libby Funeral Home has set up a free stocking for you to take home, decorate and stuff to the brim with holiday cheer. You will receive a list of recommended items along with the stocking. Libby Funeral & Cremation Services will ship the stockings (at their expense) to troops abroad in time for the holidays.
Details >

GRACE SMITH HOUSE

Grace Smith House organizes an annual Adopt-A-Family program.
Deadline: TBA
During the holiday season, Grace Smith House opens its doors to countless survivors of domestic violence and their families. They need your help to provide holiday joy to the families who shelter serve. They are seeking items such as baby monitors (new), women's robes, women’s pajamas (all sizes), grocery store gift cards, gas gift cards, underwear (women, girls, boys), jewelry, makeup, shampoos and conditioners, body wash and spray, and more.
Details >

ALL SPORT HEALTH + FITNESS

All Sport Health + Fitness is collecting select gifts via a wish-list tree. To participate, go to the fitness center and take a wish off the tree. Fulfill the wish, and bring it back!
Location Drop-Off: All Sport, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill, NY 12524
Deadline: Go now!

LOVE HOLDS LIFE AT LEWIS TOMPKINS HOSE CO. #1 OF THE BEACON FIRE DEPARTMENT

The fifth annual Toy Giveaway in Honor of Carmen Viruet-Senato is being hosted with the help of Love Holds Life Children’s Cancer Foundation. They are collecting new and unwrapped toys for children ages 2 to 14 years old, to be distributed on Saturday, December 15, with Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at Lewis Tompkins Hose Co. #1. According to Southern Dutchess News, the event is in honor of Carmen Viruet-Senato, co-founder of LHL. The event is in memory of Leticia Dos Santos. Richard Senato, founder of LHL, said Leticia was 16 years old when she passed from Stage 4 bone cancer. She created the Cookies and Cocoa event with Senato and Viruet-Senato five years ago.
Location Drop-Off: 13 South Ave., Beacon, NY
Deadline: Donation deadline is Friday, December 7.
Event for any child to receive a free toy is Saturday, December 15 from 10 am to 1 pm. All are invited.
Love Holds Life helps children and their families financially battling cancer, on a national level from their offices located in New York's Hudson Valley region. Love Holds Life provides financial support for their medical treatments and expenses not covered by insurance. LHL’s ultimate mission is to ensure children with love and life. Their financial program consists of funding a child’s medical deductible, co-payment, co-insurance and prescriptions, along with travel reimbursement to and from treatment. Donations received from individuals, foundations, corporations and other local organizations help to fund each child and their family.
NOTE: To be a drop-off location for Love Holds Life, please contact their office at (845) 592-4544

GUARDIAN SELF-STORAGE

Location Drop-Off: 14 collection locations in Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties
Deadline: November 1-December 13
Donations will go towards Toys For Tots.

As we hear of more Toy Drive Collections, we will update this list. Keep refreshing the page!

How to Submit

If you are running a toy drive, please email details in the format matching the above listings to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. Thanks!

HBO Series "I Know This Much Is True" Films In All Sport In Fishkill

Photo Credit: All Sport

This summer, on June 4, 2019, the HBO limited series, I Know This Much Is True, based on a novel by Wally Lamb and starring Mark Ruffulo, filmed at All Sport, the fitness center, in Fishkill off Route 9.

I Know This Much Is True is a family saga that follows the parallel lives of identical twin brothers (played by Mark Ruffalo) in a story of betrayal, sacrifice and forgiveness set against the backdrop of 20th-century America. Mark is also the executive producer, serving alongside the writer and director Derek Cianfrance. The storyline follows middle-aged Dominick Birdsey who recounts his troubled relationship with Thomas, his paranoid schizophrenic twin brother, and his efforts to get him release from an asylum.

Regularity of film location opportunities is new to the Hudson Valley. Businesses such as All Sport are making their customers a priority as they work to also accept the opportunity of being a film location. According to a press release from All Sport, the shoot lasted for 12 hours. During that time, All Sport offered their members 2 off-site alternative morning workouts, complimentary classes at Elevate Yoga and Barre Studio (before it was folded into All Sport’s flagship location), and re-opened the club at 5pm to allow for evening workouts.

If you are thinking about making your property available as a location for film or TV shoots, read A Little Beacon Blog’s interview with a NYC Locations Manager about what to be aware of when negotiating your rate and contract.

I Know This Much Is True is set to air on HBO in 2020.

Puppy And Dog Yoga Adoption Event A Success - And The Pictures Are Adorbs

All Sport Health and Fitness has teamed with Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts (C.A.R.E. of Dutchess County) to bring the community a special Puppy Yoga and Adoption Day and it was a huge success. “We had such a demand that we added a second session - that sold out, too! - and raised some funds for the C.A.R.E. of Dutchess County organization,” said Ashley Valitutto, marketing manager for All Sport. “We know that some lucky doggies found forever homes, and the day was full of smiles and puppy kisses.”

Puppy Yoga Programming

Puppy Yoga was led by Mind Body director Megan Wiley for two 30-minute sessions. The all-levels yoga class allowed participants to practice their downward dog pose while getting puppy kisses and seeing wagging tails. The puppies get some much-needed socialization, and attendees got a unique way to brighten up their day and exercise routine for the day.

More Animal Rescue Support Opportunities at All Sport

In addition to Puppy Yoga, All Sport will continue to have a table in their lobby all month long for collecting pet goods to support the animals at the rescue. Some of the items being collected are Purina Pro-Plan puppy food, puppy and dog toys, Wee-Wee pads, blankets, and other basic needs for operation. 

About C.A.R.E of D.C.

Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts of Dutchess County (C.A.R.E. of D.C.) is a “No Kill” non-profit pet adoption agency formed in 2016. Founder Karen LeCain established C.A.R.E. of D.C. after many years of successful animal rescue and placement. Karen has dedicated her life to ensure that all animals are given a chance at life, whether they’re found sick and afraid, injured, or abandoned. She is takes great care in properly selecting the right applicants for the animals being adopted to ensure the best fit with the pet’s health, well-being, and happiness.

To learn more about CARE of DC, please visit their website at careofdc.org, or call them at (845) 240-4862. 

All Sport Health & Fitness is located in the Village of Fishkill. To learn more, please call (845) 896-5678 or visit www.allsporthealthandfitness.com. 

Photo Credits: All Sport Health & Fitness.

New This Fall - After School Program At All Sport Health & Fitness (Sponsored)

After-school options for kids are getting pretty good around these parts. All Sport's new After School Program has been modeled around the success of their Summer Camp Program, Camp FIT. Where once you could only get planned activities in art and sports during the Vacation Camp days or Kids Night Out at All Sport, now parents can sign up their kids for regular afternoons of after-school programming that includes swimming on some days. All Sport's Kids Club is still an option, and is unchanged from what you are used to (aka the childcare room at the club), but the After School Program has more programming and planned hands-on activities with the kids. Unlike with Kids Club, registration with the After School Program means you can leave the club and do errands in the area.

Morning and afternoon care are both options, and busing is available for children in the Wappingers school district. But Beacon parents have an opportunity here to create a check-and-balance for their own fitness schedule. Here are the benefits to signing up for a couple of days of All Sport's After School Program:

Swimming Lessons and Planned Swimming Activity

You and your children may be veterans of All Sport's group or private swimming lessons, where you have gone - no matter the weather - to make strong swimmers. If you coordinate an After School Day with the swimming lessons, the staff at All Sport's After School Program can walk your child to their swimming lessons. And where might you be?

Working Out, Massages, and Errands Around
All Sport

While this After School Program is open to all children and not just members of All Sport, if you were a member, kids could be looked after while you take advantage of the club, locking in a workout with yourself. It might look like this:

• Cardio on the treadmill or elliptical, or running outside around All Sport's Outdoor Park.
• Toning on the circuit machines with a free, personalized plan of what setting and weight work for you on the machines.
• Scheduling a Pilates session with Beacon Pilates' outpost studio, located upstairs at All Sport (not included with membership, but a convenient way to utilize Beacon Pilates if you have children).
• Relaxation in the sauna with a quick shower after.
• Or... Use this time to relax for an hour, in a massage upstairs.

Space is limited in this After School Program, so reserve your days now. Be sure to ask which days have swimming as an activity, and see if you can cross-coordinate with when you schedule swimming lessons (registration for which is going on now and books fast, so call 845-896-5678 to register for swim lessons).

All Sport's decorations in their front lobby show how excited they're getting about their new After School Program!

P.S.: All Sport's Camp FIT runs all the way until the start of school, so weeks starting August 22nd and August 29th have a few spots left for campers. You can call 845-896-5678 to register, or visit this page for more details.
 
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All Sport's Outdoor Pool and Park Opening This Friday May 27th! (Sponsor Post)

It's the day we've all been waiting for! Don't worry if you do not have a pool in your backyard this Summer, you will always have a place to swim at

All Sport Health & Fitness

in Fishkill.  Their outdoor pool opens for the Summer season this Friday at noon and we can't wait! You can see a full listing of their Summer outdoor hours 

here

.

Have you been there before? It's an oasis! With two adult pools and one kiddie pool with a sloped depth for little ones and toddlers, All Sport offers refreshing room for everyone. Dry off while playing ping pong, or enjoy the summer bands that are scheduled all summer on their covered deck. Plus, the rumors are that Pool Volleyball for all adult ages gets pretty popular there too. Lounge by the Tiki Bar and enjoy an iced tea or something on tap.

Hungry for dinner and hot and tired at the end of the day? The kids won't mind if you buy them dinner of chicken nuggets and yogurt strips, a favorite on the menu.  Don't worry about packing a dinner for your family while you take a dip. You can enjoy some fresh air and stay well fed and hydrated with All Sport's food menu.

If your kids are in

All Sport's Summer Camp,

extend your kid-pickup for a quick swim! You know how hot it can get later in the day. Check out All Sport Health & Fitness for their

Outdoor Club membership

. If you haven't seen the Outdoor Club yet, ask to be taken on a tour.

All Sport

is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our

Sponsor Spotlight

program. It is with the support of businesses like this, that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a

Sponsor or Community Partner

, please

click here for more information

.