Young boy battling autoimmune disease gets surprise donation to hat collection

Anthony D’Alessandro has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that results in severe hair loss. The Massapequa Park 5-year-old started a hat collection to help cope with the condition.

Kevin Vesey

Nov 4, 2023, 1:23 AM

Updated 328 days ago

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Anthony D’Alessandro has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that results in severe hair loss.
The Massapequa Park 5-year-old started a hat collection to help cope with the condition.
The first hat was a gift from the owner of North Fork Doughnut Co.
From there, his mother Allison asked people on social media to send hats, starting what’s now called “Operation Hat Drop.”
In two weeks, Anthony was sent more than 220 hats, some from as far as California.
And on Thursday, the Nassau Police Department’s Mounted Unit paid Anthony a visit, delivering two more hats for the collection.