United Way of Southeastern Connecticut’s annual Tommy Toy Program once again on December 10 rallied the generosity, compassion, and community spirit of donors, partners and volunteers across the region, ensuring children throughout New London and Windham County experience the magic of the holidays. The distribution event occurs in three locations: Dayville, New London, and Norwich.
This year, the program provided holiday toys and gifts to 3,437 children from 1,623 households, thanks to the support of caring donors, dedicated volunteers, and local businesses who stepped up to meet the need.
“My daughter was born two days before Christmas so last year was rough,” wrote one Tommy Toy parent. “This helps ensure both girls are happy and get gifts since their Dad is on active duty.”
“Tommy Toy is an incredible reminder of what happens when our community comes together,” said Dina Sears-Graves, President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. “Every year, we see people step forward with kindness, generosity, and holiday spirit, and every year, it changes lives.”
Community Partners Step Up
This year’s success was made possible by the extraordinary efforts of 325 volunteers, including corporate and community groups who joined the program’s set-up, sorting, packing, distribution and clean-up days.
Groups such as Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, Dime Bank, Liberty Bank, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation/Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mohegan Sun, Norwich Public Schools, Norwich Public Utilities, and TVCCA devoted time and energy to help make the season bright for local families.
All of United Way’s affinity groups also had a hand in making the event special by volunteering: Retire United, Student United Way, Women United, and Young Leaders United.
Spreading Joy Through Collaboration
Tommy Toy is coordinated by United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and powered by partners across Southeastern and Eastern Connecticut -- donors who contribute toys and funds, volunteers who roll up their sleeves to prepare gift packages, and organizations who help register families and ensure toys reach children in time for the holidays. This unified effort represents the very best of our community.
For more than fifty years, Tommy Toy has been helping families struggling to make ends meet, ensuring there is a gift under the tree for their children on Christmas morning. In 1974, a young girl wrote to the Norwich Bulletin after hearing her mother say she couldn’t afford Christmas presents that year. “I’m old enough to understand,” she wrote, “but my little brother, Tommy, won’t understand.” That letter inspired an outpouring of generosity that has continued for over fifty years.
Read the full history of Tommy Toy at www.uwsect.org/tommytoy.