LI Jeep fleet delivers toys to kids in hospital

You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But what about Wrangler?

Forming a fleet to rival Santa’s reindeers, 30 Jeep Wrangler owners assembled a caravan Saturday afternoon to deliver thousands of toys for children staying at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

With about an inch of snow on the ground and more coming down, members of Long Island Wrangler met in the parking lot of the Kmart in Farmingville. From there, they drove as a convoy about 12 miles on the Long Island Expressway and Nicolls Road to the hospital.

“It was a sight to be seen,” said Kenny Miller, 26, of Shoreham, one of the group’s founding members. “A lot of people on the road were trying to take photos.”

He said members spent between $2,000 and $3,000 on the gifts they purchased. The collection, which was packed into four vehicles, included arts and crafts, stuffed animals, dolls, Matchbox and model toy Jeeps, of course, and some of the season's most coveted gifts.

"It was all toys that kids would love," said Brooke Rose, the hospital's certified childlife specialist. "It was extremely generous and it seems like they put a lot of thought into it."

When Rose and a volunteer met the Long Island Wrangler members in the hospital lobby with two small red wagons to transport the gifts, Miller said he told them, “You’re going to need about 15 more of them.” Instead, they piled them into a elevator.

Rose said the hospital will distribute the gifts to its patients throughout the year.

Miller said he particularly has as soft spot for Stony Brook’s pediatric oncology patients, because two years ago, he was treated at the hospital for a mediastinal germ cell tumor in his chest. His cancer is currently in remission.

This is the first time Long Island Wrangler has delivered toys to the hospital, but Miller, who formed the group this past summer with a few friends, said he plans to make it an annual tradition.

“Knowing that your toy is bringing a smile to a child fighting probably the toughest battle of their life is a great feeling,” said fellow co-founder, Tony Constantino, 23, of Coram, the group’s president.

Constantino is also arranging a convoy to a foster home on Long Island, so some of the nearly 200 members can spend time with the children and share their love of Jeeps with them.