C RY D E R
P O I N T
JANUARY 17
NE Queens groups deliver hundreds
of gifts to local vets and kids
WWW.QNS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 17
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
SMONTEVERDI@QNS.COM / @SMONT76
Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck,
Flushing and Whitestone residents
helped make some of the
borough’s veterans and children in need
smile this holiday season.
In an effort led by Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein’s office, 20 schools and
various civic and senior organizations
from northeast Queens collected hundreds
of supplies — including new clothing,
candy, playing cards and puzzles
— for veterans at the St. Albans VA Community
Living Center and the New York
State Veterans Home.
Thousands of toys were also collected for
local kids in need from groups including
the St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, Transition
Domestic Violence Shelter, United
States Army and Ronald McDonald House.
Donations were dropped off at the local
offices of Community Board 11, Dr. William
M. Duke and Assemblyman Braunstein
and then distributed. On Dec. 21, all
donations to veterans were hand delivered
by Braunstein and students from Benjamin
Cardozo High School.
The schools and groups that contributed
to the drives included the Beech
Hills Shareholders, Cardozo High School,
Deepdale Cares, Divine Wisdom Catholic
Academy of Douglaston, Friends of Fort
Totten Parks, Girl Scout Brownie Troop
#4720, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers
Civic Association, Greater Whitestone
Taxpayers Senior Center, Holy Cross
High School, I.S. 25, Jefferson Democratic
Club, M.S. 67 and 158, P.S. 31, 32,
98, 107, 159, 169, 184, 203, 209 and 811,
Saint Mel’s Italian American Association,
Senior Club at St. Kevin’s Parish, SNAP of
Eastern Queens Innovative Senior Center,
State Farm’s Jonathan W. Schenck, The
Lowell School, Townsend Harris High
School and the William Spyropoulos
Greek-American Day School.
“I was overwhelmed by the incredible
generosity of my constituents who
helped bring holiday cheer to those in
need,” Braunstein said. “I want to express
my sincere gratitude and appreciation to
our community and our schools for continuing
to make these gift drives such a
success. Since we received so many donations,
we were able to bring smiles to the
faces of thousands of needy children, as
well as hundreds of hospitalized veterans
this holiday season.”
Photos courtesy of Assemblyman Braunstein's
office
