On Thursday, Nov. 15, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will join officials from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and children from PS 205 at Zoo Center to kick-off Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.’s holiday toy drive.

The partnership between the Bronx Zoo and the Borough President on the toy drive has become an annual tradition. The Bronx Zoo will serve as a collection point for new, unwrapped toys donated by members of the community. Toys will be collected through the end of December and will be distributed by the Borough President’s office to local veterans and active-duty members of the military and their families.

In honor of the start of the holiday season, school children from PS 205 will be on hand to donate the first toys of the year.

Toys will also be collected at the other WCS wildlife parks – Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo. Toys donated at these locations will benefit families in need as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The New York Aquarium will be accepting toy donations at Tom’s Diner at 1229 Boardwalk West in Coney Island.

In appreciation for their generosity, those who make a qualifying donation of a new, unwrapped toy at the Bronx Zoo between Saturday, Nov. 17 and Monday, Dec. 31 will receive a free ticket to the Bronx Zoo.

Where:  WCS’s Bronx Zoo

               2300 Southern Blvd.

Bronx, NY

When:    Thursday, November 15, 2012

10:00 am – 11:00 am

** Disclaimer: One general admission ticket to the Bronx Zoo will be provided for a donation of one new, unwrapped toy at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, or New York Aquarium (AQ collection at Tom’s Diner). All WCS decisions final. For details on donation items go to bronxzoo.com. Promotion available from 11/17/12–12/31/12. May not be combined with any other offer.