Each year, Anne Hutchinson Elementary School holds the Matthew’s Wish Holiday Toy Drive, a charity started by McKinnon’s mother following her son’s death in an effort to fulfill his dream of spreading holiday cheer to children’s hospitals..
Before his death, the McKinnon was granted a wish by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to which he requested an 18-wheeler truck stocked with toys that would be delivered to children’s hospitals to surprise the youngest patients.
Beginning this week, Eastchester residents interesting in donating to the cause can bring new, unwrapped children’s toys to the bins located in the main office at Anne Hutchinson. Items will be collected through Friday, Dec. 11.
The presents will then be shipped in time for the holidays to children at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center, Ronald McDonald House and other national organizations that care for sick and terminally ill children.
In a post on her Matthew’s Wish Facebook page, McKinnon’s mother AnneMarie thanked and praised the volunteers who have donated to the cause during the first five years of the charity.
“During these past few years, we continue to grow and our U-Haul trucks are getting bigger and bigger, but none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the outpouring of support and generosity of all of you,” she wrote. “We are very excited to make this year’s Matthew’s Wish Toy Drive the biggest ever.”
Any questions about the toy drive or Matthew’s Wish can contact Wendy Pregiato at wendyandlarry1@hotmail.com.
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