Toy drive tops off year of giving
WILTON — In the spirit of giving back this holiday season, one of the town’s newer community members, Dr. Mariya Malin, is continuing with her charitable ways with the organization of a holiday toy drive.
Malin, of Wilton Smiles Family Dentistry, overtook the Old Ridgefield Road practice in January. Since joining the community at the top of this year, she sought out charitable opportunities and has been a part of three — a Beauty Bash she organized in June to benefit the local Circle of Care nonprofit, and then acted as a sponsor for the organization’s fall golf outing and Sip & Shop event.
While she has worked closely with Wilton’s own Circle of Care, the local nonprofit that works to help families dealing with some form of pediatric cancer, Malin is expanding her outreach this December across town borders.
The holiday toy drive, which began on Nov. 29 and ends Dec. 16, will benefit the Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club, Malin said
Monday. She made the decision in October, she said, to focus on benefitting a new nonprofit.
“We constantly strive to build community and integrate as much as we can into the Wilton and Ridgefield communities,” Malin said. “But this time of year, it’s even more important to do so and there are so many ways we all can.”
Toy donations can be
dropped off at the Wilton Smiles offices at 15 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton. The drive is currently accepting any new toys, wrapped or unwrapped, to be collected for the nonprofit.
While the number she is hoping to reach is 100 toys before delivering them to the Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club, she said she “happy with anything we can do.”
She acknowledged that this is a tough time for a lot of people.
“The holidays, while a special time of year for many, can also be grim and dim (time) for some due to various circumstances,” Malin said. “If those of us feeling blessed can help put a smile on another’s face who isn’t feeling as content, then we must do our part to try.”
While Malin is now a business member and resident of Wilton, she is looking to expand her outreach outside of the small Fairfield County town.
“It’s important more so now than ever before to do our part in being kind and trying to have a positive impact on society,” she said.
Malin already has her eyes set on another opportunity to give back near the top of the new year.
“We also plan to host a free cleaning checkup for all Connecticut kids who are in need of dental care on Feb. 11, for Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month,” Malin said.
The event will last from 1 to 5 p.m. and will be completely free of charge for children.