Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission is encouraging residents to participate in its 3rd Annual Toy Drive and Giveaway for the 2023 holiday season. The toy drive will conclude on Friday, Dec. 8. Residents are welcome to drop off new, unwrapped toys for youth ages 1-17 at any NORD facility, and for the first year, any We Dat’s restaurant location. Participants can locate We Dat's stores by visiting www.wedats.com. 

All donations will be distributed during the NORD Annual Drive-Thru Holiday Toy Giveaway in partnership with iHeartMedia on Saturday, Dec. 16 near the Lemann Concession stand on the Lafitte Greenway from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. while supplies last. Each child will receive one gift and must be present in the vehicle. 

“We look forward to continue what has become an annual tradition of helping make the holiday season special for youth and families across the city,” said NORD CEO Larry Barabino, Jr. “Each year, the event gets larger and larger. I am grateful for the many generous community donations, partners and businesses who are committed to serving our city's youth through the success of this event.” 

“This annual event is so important to the City of New Orleans, and I am delighted to see a return of partners and businesses who show up and support NORD in making this event and others memorable for youth and families year-round, but especially during the holiday season,” said Chair of the NORD Commission Theo Sanders.

In 2020, NORD launched the event through partnerships with several community organizations and businesses that contributed over $6,000 to purchase more than 2,500 toys and supplies for the giveaway. During the program’s inaugural year, NORD was able to help more than 800 youth and families, as well as 30 families of justice-involved youth at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC). Each year, the event has grown in donations and residents served.

Residents interested in donating a new, unwrapped toy for the giveaway can drop off the donation at any of the recreation centers and aquatics facilities below beginning Nov. 13 until Dec. 8: 

• Annunciation Recreation Center, 800 Race St., (504)658-3095
• Behrman Recreation Center, 2529 General Meyer Ave., (504)364-4091
• Cut-Off Recreation Center, 6600 Belgrade St., (504)658-3058
• Desire Florida Multi-Service Center, 3250 Industry St., (504)658-3076
• Gernon Brown Recreation Center, 1001 Harrison Ave., (504)658-3151
• Gert Town Indoor Pool, 3411 Broadway St., (504)658-3096
• Joe W. Brown Recreation Center, 5601 Read Blvd., (504)658-3080
• Lyons Recreation Center, 624 Louisiana Ave., (504)658-3004
• Milne Recreation Center, 5420 Franklin Ave., (504)658-3088
• Rosenwald Recreation Center, 1120 S. Broad St., (504)658-3090
• Bernard Recreation Center, 1500 Lafreniere St., (504)658-3040
• Sanchez Multi-Purpose Center, 1616 Fats Domino Ave., (504)658-3059
• Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center, 4300 St. Claude Ave., (504)658-3053
• Treme Recreation Community Center, 900 North Villere St., (504)658-3160

For more information, visit www.nordc.org.

Original source can be found here.