5-Year-Old Collecting Holiday Toys for Sandy-Damaged Shore Residents

Making a donation at one local business on Monday will help fuel the mission of a five-year-old Bloomingdale resident whose family launched a foundation to collect holiday toys for Jersey Shore residents whose homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

The idea behind the toy drive began with a conversation between the five-year-old, who was not named, and his mother. "I guess he isn't coming," the boy said. When asked who, he replied, "Santa." His mother, Christina Earle, asked why and the boy answered "Because there are no roofs for him to land on," speaking of the devastated homes on the Jersey Shore.

Earle got her whole family involved in the cause by starting the Santa's Rooftop Response foundation.

"In just three weeks, Santa’s Rooftop Response has grown to a small community of organizers and volunteers with support from more than a dozen local NJ groups, including schools, churches, fire departments, scout troops and small businesses," according to a press release.

Earle and her family are specifically working to identify children in the Lavalette and Seaside Heights Elementary Schools to donate the toys to. In the meantime, volunteers will be stationed at Coney Island Pizza, at 40 Hamburg Turnpike in Riverdale, to collect new and unwrapped clothing and toys from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Additionaly, Coney Island is offering a free margarita pizza (two per customer) for any donation of $10 or more.

Checks and gift cards are also being accepted for the drive and can be sent to the Pompton Reformed Church, attn: Santa's Rooftop Response, 59 Hamburg Turnpike, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.