In an effort to keep the holiday spirit going year-round, Deborah Herrmann, a Levittown resident, has coordinated a local toy drive for needy children.

Herrmann is a Discovery Toys educational consultant in Levittown. Discovery Toys are educational and developmental toys, books, games, and software for children of all ages, birth to adult.

While looking at a Discovery Toys loop on the Internet Herrmann discovered that a consultant in another part of the country was doing this toy drive and she decided that it was something that she would like to do on a local level.

The Discovery Toys Springtime Baskets will be filled with educational toys, books, and games for children who may not ordinarily have an opportunity to use educational products such as these. Herrmann, along with Ilene Corina, another educational consultant working on this project, is seeking donations of $25 for each basket from local community members and businesses. Those participating will receive acknowledgement in each basket that they contribute toward.

The baskets will be distributed to three charitable organizations. The three organizations, Momma's House, the Sure Foundation Childcare Center/Grace Cathedral Children's Center, and LIAAC service approximately 500 children. Herrmann acknowledged, "I would love to service all of them but I know that may not be possible." Momma's House, which Herrmann discovered through Corina, is a home for unwed mothers, where mothers and their new babies go and are provided with all types of educational services to help them get back on their feet. The Sure Foundation Childcare Center/Grace Cathedral Children's Center, which Herrmann discovered through Toys for Sick Children Founder John Theissen, is a daycare center in Uniondale that also helps children from other areas. LIAAC, also found through Corina, is the Long Island Association for AIDS Care.

Herrmann is also working with Cub Scout Pack 318 who will be decorating bags, if the group is unable to get enough baskets for the toys. The troop will also be making cards to go along with the gifts.

Besides financial contributions Herrmann is seeking Easter baskets and related supplies (such as grass, cello wrap, ribbon); and/or white handled bags (such as those used to hold apples); art supplies to decorate the bags; and chocolate Easter Bunnies and related Easter/Passover candy to fill the baskets or bags.

This is not the first event to raise toys for children that Herrmann has been involved in. She has also helped with the Toy Raisers at the Nassau County Medical Center, one of which will be held on March 11. She explained, "This is what I like to do. I like to feel that I am getting these toys out to children who really can't afford to have them, don't know about them, and that could really benefit from them. I like the idea of raising toys to help others." She added that this is something that she has been wanting to do for a while.

People who are interested in participating in this toy drive are asked to contact Deborah Herrmann, 37 Hyacinth Rd., Levittown 11756 or call 796-0209 as soon as possible. Herrmann would like to be able to deliver these baskets by Easter/Passover but will accept donations to be delivered within 1-2 weeks after that time.

Herrmann concluded, "Ilene and I, along with other team members, love raising Discovery Toys products for children in need, whether it be children's charities, or children in hospitals. We would love to see all children benefit from playing and learning with Discovery Toys books, toys, games, and software."