NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A Long Island business owner said Friday that he will donate $25,000 to the Salvation Army, a day after the nonprofit said it was short on toy donations for kids in the New York area this holiday season.
Robert Jesberger, owner of Mid Island Collision, an auto repair shop in Rockville Centre, made the surprise announcement to Jennifer Groff, the community engagement director at the Salvation Army’s Greater New York division.
Groff joined “Newsline with Brigitte Quinn” on 1010 WINS Thursday as the Salvation Army urgently looked to get toys for thousands more kids in New York and New Jersey ahead of Christmas as parts of its Angel Tree program. She said the pandemic and its many effects were having an impact on the toy drive.
Groff was back on 1010 WINS Friday and shared that the Salvation Army received about $1,000 shortly after her Thursday appearance, allowing the organization to get toys for another 40 kids.
Groff said the Salvation Army was about 3,000 toys shy of providing gifts for some 40,000 children in the greater New Yorker area.
Little did she know, Jesberger heard her plea on the radio and contacted the station, saying he’d like to make a big donation to the nonprofit.
“I heard the story yesterday and it really bothered me,” Jesberger told Groff as he revealed his gift on-air. “I’m going to make a donation today, and I hope it makes a difference.”
Jesberger asked Groff how much money she thought would be helpful.
Groff said $1,000 would help get toys to another 40 kids.
“That’s not enough, we’ve got to keep on going, so I want you to go to the extreme for me,” Jesberger said. “What is it that would be a very big helping on a top end?”
Groff said $10,000 would really help the effort.
“I’m going to donate $25,000,” Jesberger said. “And that’s nothing, because all I can tell you is that God gives you the back to fit the burden, and people patronize my business, and I have an obligation.”
The $25,000 will help another 1,000 kids get gifts as the Salvation Army closes in on its goal of 40,000.
“That’s incredible, Bob,” Groff said. “I mean on behalf of those families and children, that means the world. On behalf of the Salvation Army, thank you.”
Jesberger said the Salvation Army does very important work and that he’d be happy to donate more if Groff stops by his business with “a nice plaque I can show my beautiful girls and I can show my consumers.”
“I want to show the customers this is what we’re supposed to do and that I appreciate their business,” he said, adding that businesses across the New York area should step forward and “make the difference in what these kids need today.”
Groff said she’d be happy to take him up on the opportunity.
In the meantime, the Salvation Army is still looking to meet its gift-giving goal. Those interested in donating can text “toyshop” to the number 91999. They’ll then receive a link to make a donation in any amount.
“We’ll receive those donations and can go out and purchase toys to fill the gaps,” Groff said.
More information about the Salvation Army’s holiday assistance programs, including Angel Tree, can be found here at the organization’s website.
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