Oakland Chamber of Commerce’s Toys for Tots collection was a huge success this year, bringing in 4,637 gifts for children in need this holiday season. We are thrilled to have had as much support from our business partners, schools, and community that we did in the collection. Thank you to all, this was a huge team effort! Check out our photo gallery below!
Operation Toy Train rolled into Bush Plaza delivering Santa Claus to a beautiful turn out of neighbors, community members and business owners. As teams of people, including our local Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, assisted the Marine Corps Reserve and Operation Toy Train volunteers in loading up the boxed toys onto the train, Emily Kern Photography snapped photographs of Santa with the crowd of children and families lined up to greet him.
Val Tramontozzi of Keller Williams Prosperity assembled and handed out gift bags to visitors filled with goodies from local businesses including coupons to Oakland favorites French Oak Bar & Grill and Real Brave, with cookies donated by Goodie Girl and Reindeer Food from Susan Didonato of KW Prosperity, with many more gifts from our OCoC businesses completing the bags. Food for the event was provided by Oakland Public Events, organizing the abundance of hot dogs from Mike’s Dog House and delicious coffee and hot chocolate from Coffee Roasters.
This day could not happen without our Director of the Toys for Tots initiative, Soccer Shots Bergen and Passaic owner, Marc Fox. He has helped grow this event from 8 people attending the 1st train stop in 2012 to the block party type event we have now bringing the community together to help those in need. Marc says, “It’s amazing how the town, Chamber, community and volunteers come together with an amazing outpouring of love and support. It’s very appreciated.” The Chamber would also like to express a sincere thank you to the ever-helpful Oakland Fire Department as well as Lawn Doctor for assisting in the collecting and organizing of all the toys collected.
The Oakland Chamber of Commerce looks forward to more events for worthy causes and bringing the holiday spirit back to Bush Plaza next year!
Thank you to the following businesses for your support:
Andrea Levy - Keller Williams Prosperity
Apex Wrestling School - Mahwah
Bagel Supreme of Oakland
Barre3 - Franklin Lakes
Betti Russo - Keller Williams Prosperity
Cenzinos Ristorante
Columbia Bank
Crystal Lake Community Beach
Dance Theatre of NJ
Dunkin Donuts - Franklin Lakes
Emily Kern Photography
Frank's Pizza Oakland
French Oak Bar & Grill
Good Girl Cookies
Hidden Gem Beauty and Wellness
HLL CPA LLC
Inking Out Loud
J-B Pet Supplies
JD'S Deli & Grille
Keller Williams Prosperity
Laser Dentistry of North Jersey
Lawn Doctor
Linda Schwager, Esq.
Lindsey Smith - Christie's International Real Estate
M&T Bank Oakland
Michele Belfiore - Keller Williams Prosperity
Mike's Dog House
Oakland Fire Department
Oakland Public Library
Oakland Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Oakland Senior Center
Real Brave Oakland
ReMax Select - Chopper Russo Team
Revival Health
Roast'd Coffee - Franklin Lakes
ShopRite of Oakland
Sunrise Senior Living
Susan Didonato - Keller Williams Prosperity
Soccer Shots Bergen and Passaic
Team K Taekwondo
Tenafly Pediatrics
The Soccer Post
The Spotted Dog
Tons of Toys Wyckoff
Uncle Louie's - Franklin Lakes
U-Paint Studio
Valerie Tramontozzi - Keller Williams Prosperity
Visions Federal Credit Union
YG Nails
Photos from our Oakland's 2023 Toys for Tots Event
Photo credit: Emily Kern Photography plus Oakland Chamber Board & community members.
