Dear Friends of the Cypress Hills Child Corporation;
My best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year!
Here are some of the 2017 highlights of our unconventional and truly magical Toy Drive!
We could not have done it without your contributions!
The families whose names were submitted by our Head Start and Center teachers, social workers, and the local food pantry were truly families that needed some magical intervention or they would have done without.
We are so grateful for your continued support! Toy Drive 2017 was a success and together we were able to overcome the last minute hurdle of not having the Blessed Sacrament gym at our disposal. The additional space allows us to be more efficient in planning our routes but the elves and reindeer were not deterred by the last minute challenge. We divided our small office into different segments so the deliveries would make a little bit of sense and by 10:30 am the first team left. Incredible as it might seem by early afternoon most of the 249 deliveries had reached their destination, Mildred and I kept calling the returns and by late in the day most had made it to their intended homes. Collectively we helped transform the holidays for 462 children, a few senior citizens and Jeffery.
Special thank you to:
The friends of the CHCCC, our amazing Santa’s helpers, that every year include our toy drive in their Holiday gift giving.
The Robin Hood Foundation, an amazing partner, who adopted 14 of the neediest families buying every member of the family including parents wonderful gifts that included coats, hats and warm clothing. Many of the recipients also received generous food gift certificates to local supermarkets.
Guilis Aquino, and the employees at the Greenwich Avenue Citibank office who sponsor the Letters to Santa effort. Our Head Start and Center children, 154 in total, had their wishes come true, when Santa Guido delivered their personal request at the Children's Holiday Party.
Pedro Valetin, a former Cypress Hills resident, who has been a Toy Drive contributor since the Drive's inception and who every year, delivers hundreds of gifts to our office.
Emily Van Ingen and her many friends who purchased dozens of gifts from our Toy Drive Amazon Wish List.
To UNH and the Sirus Fund whose generous donation enabled us to purchase the food gift certificates.
Joseph Brown for applying to the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies for a toy donation and then picking up the toys in Manhattan!
To the Fulton Street Merchants Association for donating food gift certificates to nine needy families in our community. Thank you to Raquel Olivares from the CHLDC for coordinating the effort.
Sergeant Gallardo and the ROTC students who volunteer with the Toys for Tots program we are grateful for the 40 gifts we received.
The Foster Avenue UPS drivers/staff who select the CHCCC to be the recipient of their United Way contributions. Their donations enabled us purchase dozens of coats and warm clothing to go along with the toys.
To the amazing CHCCC staff, who never complain about how overcrowded and messy our office becomes in December. Thank you, particularly to Mildred for dedicating many lunch hours to wrapping/labeling gifts.
To the wrapping team; Keyonna Cogdell, Christian Mantuano, Luis Vargas, Stephanie Choez, Haylee Francia, Jonathan Ventura, Jacquela Mc Lemore who spent hours wrapping and labeling packages.
To the hard working AmeriCorps volunteers who were here bright and early on the 24th to help with the deliveries.
To Maria Rodriguez, our own Rudolph, who helped coordinate the drive, the wish list and answer a million questions. A big thank you to her entire family especially Michael for going over and beyond!
To the record number of dedicated CHCCC, CHLDC and friends of the organization…. Elves and Reindeers that, rain or shine, sleet or snow, donate their time to help deliver hundreds of packages on Christmas Eve.
Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus, he exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. ~ Francis Church
The spirit of this message remains alive in the many good people that make our magical Toy Drive a reality. I consider myself privileged to call them my friends.
Sincerely,
Maria Contreras Collier
Executive Director
CYPRESS HILLS CHILD CARE CORPORATION FALL FUNDRAISER CORPORATE SPONSORS
We are deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors. Please patronize these companies and organizations that help us provide for the youngest learners in Cypress Hills.
