Christmas will be brighter for kids at Roanoke Avenue Elementary School, thanks to the efforts of local residents, spearheaded by Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski.
Zaleski, his son Ryan, and retired highway department workers Ed Reeve and Ray Bouchard dropped off a trailer-load of toys, games and gifts at the Riverhead elementary school yesterday.
They delivered more than 500 items in all, Zaleski said.
The gifts were collected as part of a toy drive he conducts every Christmas season at the highway department, where a box is set up to collect drop-offs. They were also collected by Fink’s Country Farm in Wading River, the Riverhead Moose Lodge, the Nostalgic Car Club and by Zaleski, who runs a 5K three times a week to encourage donations.
They are distributed to families in need whose children attend the downtown Riverhead K-4 school. The distribution is coordinated by school social worker’s office.
There’s no better way to bring smiles to children’s faces, Zaleski said. “I run to de-stress in life and what accelerates that is giving,” he said.
“Do good to feel good — that’s my motto.”
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