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"It's great to have volunteers. This is truly a community effort," said Michael Cotela, the club's executive director.
Among the people at the event were Sarah Fredericks and Debbie Bocchino from Banana Republic.
They said staff at five Banana Republic stores in the area, including Stamford, "adopted" 35 club members and purchased items ranging from clothes to toys to books from the wish lists put together by the children, Fredericks said.
The company's staff were eager to help, she said.
"We had very good participation, and those who didn't buy toys or clothes would say, 'Here's money to buy boots,' for example," she said.
Fredericks is general manager and district community leader for Banana Republic.
Bocchino, a customer experience manager at the Stamford Banana Republic, said it's not just a one-time event for the employees.
"It's an ongoing yearlong relationship. It is not just the holidays," she said.
That's also the role that Brooklyn-based Aventi Speciality Foods plays with the club, in large part due to company employee John Weintraub.
He was busy in the kitchen, helping to prepare meals Friday, including cutting beets that left his hands stained with their red juice.
For the last four years Weintraub, a New York City resident, has been involved in introducing club members to fruit and vegetables. Many of the students haven't had many vegetables and fruits in their daily diet, he said. But they have begun to appreciate them through his and the club's educational efforts.
"The children just love beets," he said using that as an example.
Many volunteers from Lapine Associates were on hand to help with the toy distribution.
Firefighters brought a fire engine and Santa Claus to the event, as well.
The other sponsors involved were NBC Sports, Lapine Associates, Bimbo Bakeries, Nestlé Waters, Coca-Cola, Buffalo Wild Wings, Trump Park and NBCUniversal.
Cotela said the day was a special one for the children and staff.
"Today means that we are celebrating as a Boys & Girls Club family. This is our after school family and we get together and have a little dinner and spend a little time together and enjoy the holidays for everybody," he said.
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