I was happy to hear over the weekend that Long Island wineries will be participating in a project to collect toys for underprivileged and sick children across Long Island.

From Saturday, November 29 through Sunday, December 21, participating wineries will have collection boxes for visitors to donate new, unwrapped toys.

The program is being coordinated by the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that has collected and donated more than 550,000 new toys to children in over 185 hospitals and child care facilities across Long Island since its inception in 1992.

There will be collection boxes in the following winery tasting rooms: Castello di Borghese, Corey Creek Vineyards, Croteaux Vineyards, Duck Walk Vineyards, Jamesport Vineyards, Laurel Lake Vineyards, The Lenz Winery, Lieb Family Cellars, Long Island Meadery, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, Palmer Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Pindar, The Old Field Vineyards, Osprey’s Dominion, Roanoke Vineyards, The Tasting Room Peconic, Waters Crest Winery and Wölffer Estate Vineyards.

I haven't heard what they will be yet, but many of the wineries will be offering special promotions to encourage toy donations during the collection period.

It's great to see the local wineries supporting this cause leading up to the holidays. Get out there and support both the wineries and the toy drive.