The Daily Mail
COXSACKIE — With the holidays just around the corner, correctional officers at a local prison wanted to make sure the season was as bright as possible for children suffering in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Sandy caused unprecedented devastation downstate in what was perhaps one of the worst storms to ever hit the region, leaving many without their homes, utilities, and in some cases, barely more than the shirts on their backs.
So correctional officers at Coxsackie Correctional Facility decided to take matters into their own hands and take up a collection to help those in need.
They started out doing what lots of other groups are doing — collecting non-perishable foods, hygiene items and personal products — but then decided this time of year called for a little extra something.
Toys for the little ones, of course.
“This started out as collecting goods for the families, and we decided we would also try to fill a school bus with gifts for the kids,” Correctional Officer Scott Rogers said. “Most of the relief efforts have been geared to adults and their needs, but with the holidays nearing we decided to also collect gifts for the children.”
A bright yellow school bus is parked near the entrance to the prison and is ready to accept toys and other items, which will be transported to those hardest hit by the hurricane in either New York City or Long Island.
While a pile of goodies has already been collected — don’t worry, there’s plenty of room to still accept your donations — the officers’ union, the New York State Correctional Officers Police Benevolent Association, or NYSCOPBA, also contributed a check for $1,000 to the effort.
“The money will be used to purchase toys,” said NYSCOPBA Mid Hudson Regional Vice President Mike Mazzella. “I got a phone call from the union representatives asking if we could help. This is a worthy cause so we decided to donate the money for this.”
According to Correctional Officer Pete Stetz, when upstate neighborhoods were so hard hit by Hurricane Irene last year, downstate organizations offered a helping hand, and now it was only right to do the same for them.
“They did the same for us when we needed help last year,” Stetz said. “This time around, we got off lucky, and we just want to return the favor.”
In addition to collecting toys and other items from employees at the facility and members of the community, the group has another way of getting donations.
“Every year we host a party for children in the area and we give out gifts,” Stetz said. “Whatever is left over we will put on the bus and bring it down to the city.”
The collection effort kicked off on Monday afternoon, with the guest of honor — Santa Claus, of course — arriving via an unusual form of Christmas transportation - a motorcycle. He was accompanied by a pair of his trusty elves, all ready for the holidays.
Santa, also known as Anthony Ritrovato, said, he was happy to help kids who are living through the devastating lasting effects of Hurricane Sandy.
“We felt like they needed help down in New York after the travesty of Hurricane Sandy,” Santa said. “We have had officers who were through that with Hurricane Irene and lost their homes and know what they are going through, so we wanted to help out.”
You can bring donations of toys or other items (like non-perishable food, diapers, toiletries, batteries, paper towels, etc.) to Coxsackie Correctional Facility. Enter the grounds on Route 9W and take your first right, where you will be able to see the yellow school bus next to the second house on the right. Items can be left outside the bus, and will be picked up that day and loaded onto the bus.
Items will continue to be collected until December 21, or whenever the bus is filled up.
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