“The real joy during the holiday season is giving to others, so I am urging all New Yorkers to spread a little joy,” Comptroller Thompson said.

During a recent visit to the Dominican Republic, Thompson offered to assist in a local holiday toy drive led by Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo. That toy drive is assisting 5,000 needy children in the region.

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat of Manhattan, along with the South Bronx Board of Trade, Manhattan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Isabella Geriatric Center, Musica Against Drugs, and businessmen Gilbert Rivera and Bill Howard have joined the effort.

Thompson’s toy drive will run until 3 p.m. on December 19th. People can send or bring unwrapped toys to the Office of the New York City Comptroller, Room 1330, New York, N.Y., 10007. For more information, contact Walter Roundtree in the Comptroller’s Office of Community Relations at (212) 669-3897.

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