Toy drive aims to bring cheer to LI prisoners' kids

Moms and dads being held in the Suffolk and Nassau jails will still be able to, almost literally, reach through the bars to hand their children a gift through a toy drive designed to bring holiday cheer despite the parents' incarceration.

This year, officials at both jails have again agreed to allow Prison Families Anonymous and the Office of Prison Ministry and Criminal Justice Affairs of the Diocese of Rockville Centre to coordinate a drive that has for decades brought smiles to needy children who visit their parents in jail.

"We know that at this time of the year families are separated and we try to make the holiday season a little more bearable for children who have a loved one incarcerated," said Barbara Allan, executive director of Prison Families Anonymous, a support group for relatives of people in jails and prison.

"I think it's definitely a nice touch around the holidays for children that have an incarcerated parent and it's certainly important in the rehabilitation process to make sure that the bond between parent and child remains strong," said Vincent DeMarco, Suffolk County sheriff.

The toys have been collected by the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Centereach, whose parishioners donate hundreds of unwrapped gifts each year at the start of Advent.

Volunteers help pass out the gifts to children on their parents' behalf during visiting hours at the Nassau jail in East Meadow from Dec. 20 to 23 and at the Suffolk jails in Riverhead and Yaphank from Dec. 14 to 18.

"Their eyes light up they're so happy and it makes the experience of being in the visiting room so much more bearable for the children," Allan said of the youngsters. "When they get the toy, it gives them a different perspective of what it's like to visit."