Flooded Aquarium’s Toy Drive Moves to Tom’s Coney Island

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Flooded Aquarium’s Toy Drive Moves to Tom’s Coney Island

November 23, 2012 by Tricia

Donate Here: Toys (New Only) for Coney, Tom Restaurant, Coney Island. November 17, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

Last weekend at Tom’s Restaurant on the Coney Island Boardwalk, ATZ spotted this sign for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s annual toy drive. A hand-lettered note says “Toys (New Only) for Coney” and there’s a donation box on the floor. From November 17th through December 31st, the WCS is accepting new, unwrapped toys at the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo. Due to recovery efforts at the Aquarium, which was flooded by Hurricane Sandy and remains closed, donations in Coney Island are instead being accepted at Tom’s.

“Thank you for joining the New York Aquarium along with the newly formed Alliance of Coney Island to collect toys for families in need this holiday season,” says a post on the WCS website. “Toys donated will benefit families in need as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Donations can be dropped off at Tom’s Diner on the Coney Island boardwalk.” Donors will receive one free general admission ticket to the Bronx Zoo for every donated toy.

Tom’s Coney Island is open daily from 8am till 5pm with weekend hours till 7pm. The new restaurant, which opened only a few weeks ago, was miraculously spared damage from Hurricane Sandy and is one of the few stores in the area with electricity. Owner Jimmy Kokotas was able to quickly reopen and be here for the community. Tom’s has served as a command center for volunteers and a host for breakfast meetings about storm relief for Coney Island business owners.

Tom’s Coney Island, 1229 Boardwalk (at Stillwell Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11224. Phone 718-942-4200