Kids get over 1,300 toys at Westbury community center

There was plenty of joy to go around at the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury last week.

That’s because over 1,300 toys were collected, wrapped, and delivered to children, the culmination of this year’s toy drive. Santa personally distributed them to the kids following the festive tree-lighting celebration on Friday, Dec. 19.

North Hempstead Councilman Robert Troiano, a life-long Westbury resident who once again headed the event, thanked Bobby Kumar from Toys for Tots, The John Theissen Foundation, LI Composting, ZECC, ReWorld, and the staff of the Westbury School District for their generous support and commitment to making the initiative possible.

“The joy on the faces of our youngest neighbors was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together in the spirit of the season,” Troiano said. “Thank you to everyone who donated, shared the drive, and helped make this holiday moment truly special for our community.”

The Yes We Can Community Center at 141 Garden St. in Westbury features an NBA-sized basketball court, fitness center, dance studio, art gallery, senior and teen lounges, community meeting rooms, event spaces, and more. It is home to the Long Island Nets and the North Hempstead TV studio (NHTV), the town’s 24-hour government channel. Environmentally advanced with rooftop solar panels, solar trees, EV charging stations, and geothermal systems, the center stands as a model of sustainable design and community engagement.