Real-Life Santa Buys Entire Toy Store for Homeless Kids

How does someone who regularly purchases hundreds of toys per year for New York City's foster kids step up her philanthropic game? By buying an entire toy store. The idea came to Carol Suchman when she noticed a closed shop with a for rent sign in her neighborhood, NY1 reports. "When I saw this toy store, I just realized I could do it on a grander scale," she says. According to Today, Hudson Party Store had been out of business for months but was still full of toys. "I thought it was so sad that all the toys were just sitting inside this closed store," Suchman says. So she contacted the owner and bought everything in it, NY1 reports.

Suchman tells Today the former owner of Hudson Party Store was thrilled its unused stock would be going to a good cause. NY1 reports Suchman and volunteers bagged up thousands of toys, stuffed animals, and school supplies and brought them to the city's Department of Homeless Services. "I've been doing this for many years and we have many generous sponsors," a department staff member says. "But I have to say that this is the first time anybody ever bought out an entire store." Suchman—the former owner of a successful tech company—is modest about her big purchase. "I know everyone can use a gift around the holidays," she says. (These "layaway Santas" pay for strangers' Christmas presents.)