ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- The holidays are right around the corner, and not every kid, teen or adult finds this time of year jolly or joyous. Elmira's location of the Corning Collegiate Recovery Center is hosting a toy drive to make sure kids whose parents are in addiction recovery wake up to presents on Christmas morning.

Brandon Parks fought his addiction to opioids for years. Now two years into his recovery, he wants to make sure every parent who is a client of the center can give their kids presents for the holidays

"There have been a few times I have entered recovery, and I have three children myself, three boys, and you're trying to scrape together any finances you can to be able to get them a few presents and make them happy," says Parks. 

The recovery center is asking for toys to be donated for kids sixteen months to 18 years old. Parks wants to guarantee toys will be under the tree waiting to light up young faces on Christmas morning.

"We are serving clients who are in recovery, who have come through here. Whether that be through a meeting or one on one pier session. Right now we have nine clients who have children and all together we have 23 children," said Parks. 

On Tuesday, October 28th, a woman who wants to remain anonymous dropped off hats, gloves, board games, dolls, footballs, basketballs, and wireless earbuds for the center to wrap and hand out. Parks was in awe by all one person brought in to help his first-ever holiday toy drive.

Elmira's Corning Collegiate Recovery Center will be accepting donations through December 18th. Over the following days, Parks and the recovery center staff will wrap up the donations and send them off. Parks told WENY News he is a parent of three boys and understands what it is like to be in recovery during the holidays. His message, it is not easy for the person recovering from addiction or their loved ones. 

"They may not have had the best Christmas in the past and we are trying to make sure this is a good Christmas they can remember," shared Parks.

The Elmira location for Corning Collegiate Recovery Center is 318 Madison Avenue, room 106, Elmira, New York 14901.