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Long Island Charity Gets $30,000 After Holiday Toy Theft as Investigation Continues

A $30,000 check from the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation helps replace stolen or ruined items, enabling the nonprofit to pivot to gift cards to keep deliveries on track.

Overview

  • Suffolk County police confirmed toys were stolen from outside Toys of Hope’s Huntington Station warehouse, and the case remains under investigation.
  • Volunteers had shrink‑wrapped thousands of gifts for distribution, then returned to find many missing and others vandalized or water‑damaged after a storm.
  • Loss estimates differ across reports, with the founder citing $20,000–$30,000 while the New York Post reported about 600 stolen items and a $50,000 figure.
  • The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation delivered a $30,000 donation in person after seeing media coverage, providing immediate relief for replacement efforts.
  • Toys of Hope is issuing gift cards where exact replacements are not possible, continues to seek public donations, and is working to finish holiday deliveries by Jan. 6.