One Toy at a Time — Carrying on My Grandpa’s Legacy in Downtown New Port Richey

My grandpa, Danny O’Meara — larger than life, unforgettable, and the heartbeat of every room he walked into.

There are certain memories that don’t just sit in your mind — they sit in your bones.
For me, Toys for Tots is one of them.

I grew up watching the way my grandpa moved through this town — Downtown New Port Richey wasn’t just where he lived, it was where he showed up. He wasn’t a quiet man, and he definitely wasn’t subtle. He was a marketing wizard long before social media existed, and he made everything he touched feel big, loud, and absolutely unforgettable.

Saturday mornings were spent sticking flags in people’s yards for the Fourth of July. And every March, he hosted the most chaotic, spirited, completely iconic St. Patrick’s Day boat parade you’ve ever seen. His house sat right on the Cotee River, across from Sims Park, and if you had a boat, guess what — you were in the parade. Period. And if you didn’t have decorations? Us kids were out there taping shamrocks to anything that floated.

He didn’t ask for permission.
He didn’t worry about being polished.
He just created moments — and made this town feel alive.

This past weekend, I stood along the river watching Downtown’s Christmas boat parade drift by — and something hit me. Hard. Like memory in 4K. Every light, every horn, every boat covered in tinsel felt like slipping straight back into one of those childhood Saturdays with him. And the thing that really grabbed my heart?

His Toys for Tots Christmas party.

Every year, he threw a massive gathering — food catered by local restaurants, music, laughter, the whole community packed into his riverfront home. And the highlight of the night was always him, dressed as Santa, standing next to a Toys for Tots box that he insisted on filling until it overflowed. I mean overflowed. Those toys didn’t just help kids… they created memories for everyone lucky enough to witness it.

That was his legacy.
Joy. Community. Generosity that felt contagious.

This year, as I watch people drop toys into my own little Toys for Tots box at Snip Happens, I can’t help but feel like I’m stepping into his shoes — one small step at a time. I’m not hosting boat parades (yet), and I’m not Santa (yet), but every time someone adds a stuffed Spider-Man or a board game or a truck, I feel that spark. That reminder that giving doesn’t need to be grand to be meaningful.

It just needs to be intentional.
It needs heart behind it.
And this town has always had heart.

So, if you’ve added a toy to my box — or plan to — just know this:

My grandpa is looking down, proud as hell.
And I’m proud too.
Proud of this community, proud of this chair I’m building my career in, and proud that something as simple as a toy can stretch across generations and keep a legacy alive.

Here’s to carrying his spirit forward in Downtown New Port Richey — one toy at a time.
And here’s to the memories we’re all making together.

🖤
Daniel
Snip Happens NPR
Downtown New Port Richey, FL