by Jamil Ragland December
HARTFORD, CT — It wasn’t quite the North Pole, but it was still plenty cold Friday afternoon as volunteers delivered dozens of toys for Hartford children.
The toy drive, organized by the CT State Capitol Police and the Information Technology Department of the Connecticut General Assembly, in conjunction with the Village for Families and Children, delivered the toys to the Burns Latino Studies Academy on Putnam Street in Hartford. The drive aims to provide a toy to each child in the Latino Studies Academy and the adjacent Burns Hartford Pre-Kindergarten Magnet School.
State Sen. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, was on hand to help offload toy trucks, footballs, plushies and other gifts alongside Paul Alderucci, the director of information technology for the CGA.
Alderucci said that the assembly has been collecting toys for the holidays for over 30 years. Sgt. Erica O’Connor of the Capitol Police said her organization began doing the same a decade ago, and the groups combined their efforts three years ago.
“It’s tough this time of year, and we get it,” she said. “So the fact that our community, where we are, can give is just, it’s amazing. And they come through every time.”
The toys will be distributed to students during a celebration for Three Kings Day on January 12. Victor Cristofaro, principal of Burns Latino Studies Academy, said the celebration and the gift giving is an important part of the school community.
“When we talk about the Latino community, understand that for us, we’re a majority Puerto Rican community here,” he said. “Three Kings Day is the holiday. For many, it’s more important than Christmas, so this is a big deal for them. And for a lot of our students, it’s not uncommon for this to be their only gift for the holiday.”