Community Corner

Batavia ACCESS Toy Drive Update: The Need Is Greater Than Ever

Up to 800 Batavia children might need toys from the program this year. To pull this off, more donations are needed. Here's what the program's co-chair said on Monday night at City Hall.

This is going to take a lotta love ... and a lot of donations.

The Batavia ACCESS Committee will need to help between 700 and 800 children this year with its annual toy drive. That's at least 100 more children than they helped during last year's program.

As of Monday, the Committee does not have enough donations to help every child, said Roy Bailey, the drive's co-chair. He spoke before the Batavia City Council Monday night at .

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The Access Toy Drive provides gifts to Batavia children that otherwise would not receive them. Families have to qualify and sign up at the Batavia Clothes Closet for this program.

Despite the current toy shortage for the drive, Bailey remained positive and encouraged Batavia residents to continue donating through this Saturday, the last collection day for the drive.

Find out what's happening in Bataviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bailey likened the tradition of generosity in the city to those in the tradition of excellence at : "Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog; Once a Batavian, always a Batavian."

"Somehow, someway we are going to make it," Bailey said on Monday.

Unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the following locations until this Saturday, Dec. 10. Saturday is the last day of collection:

  • , 100 N. Island Ave.
  • One of the , 800 E. Wilson St. or 1400 Main St.
  • The , 10 S. Batavia Ave.
  • Fitness Studio, 833 E. Wilson St.
  • , 7 E. Wilson St. (just east of the downtown bridge)

Matching Gift For Monetary Donations

After Bailey spoke, Batavia resident Todd Buss addressed the council. He told them he had just received an e-mail on his phone from a donor that wished to remain anonymous.

The donor is willing to match 50 cents of every $1 donated to the Batavia ACCESS Toy Drive, up to a value of $6,000, Buss said.

Donors can make checks out to "Batavia Access Toys" and drop them off at the Batavia Police Department, 100 N. Island Ave.

For more information on what to donate and other program info, click .


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