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Sissy McGinty’s Teams Up with Local Darts League and 114th Precinct for Toy Drive

Dec. 21, 2016 Staff Report

‘Tis the season, and one Irish bar on Steinway Street is gearing up to bring some Christmas joy to toddlers in need.

Sissy McGinty’s, on 25-67 Steinway Street, has recently partnered with the 114th precinct for their annual “Blue Christmas” Toy Drive, to collect toys at the bar and then distribute them to children in Astoria who live below the poverty line.

“We want to do something to give back to kids in our community,” said bar owner John, “A toy drive like this does that.”

Photo credit: Sylvia Diaz

In order to help get more customers to donate, McGinty’s also partnered with a local darts league formed by Astoria Social, a community organization that puts together regular events at bars and restaurants in the neighborhood throughout the year.

“We have hosted weekly darts tournaments throughout the month of December at Sissy McGinty’s,” said Warren Sheinwald, a co-organzier at Astoria Social Darts League.

Each week, the public was invited to play in the tournament, and bring a suggseted donation of five dollars or a new unwrapped toy for the drive.

“The money raised will be used to purchase gift certificates to Toys R’ Us,” he added.

To date, the group has so far raised close to $400, and brought in more than two dozen toys.

Gifts donated to date (Photo credit: Brandon York)

Thursday is the last day that the visiting public can drop off a toy or make a donation for the drive, afterwhich members of the 114th precinct will pick up the donations and distribute them throughout the neighborhood.

“We love doing what we can to help a local charity, and giving back to the community that has been kind to us for so many years,”

Sissy McGinty’s celebrated their 17th year in Astoria last month. The bar hosts weekly events including dart league games on Mondays and Wednesdays, free pool on Tuesday nights, and karaoke every Friday beginning at 10:00 pm.

The bar also installed its own event space two years ago, which has hosted a number of celebrations according to bartender Mary, who has been at Sissy McGinty’s since its opening.

“Every Sunday, a crowd of frequent customers can be found watching American football on any one of our 12 television screens, or placing an order for our beer bucket specials,” she added.

Hours of operation are:

Monday to Saturday – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sundays – 12:00 pm to 4:00 am

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