10
L E H A V R E
N E W S
J A N U A R Y NE Queens groups deliver hundreds
of gifts to local vets and kids
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 offi ce, 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 offi ces 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.”
10 LEHAVRE COURIER | JANUARY 2018 | WWW.QNS.COM
Photos courtesy of Assemblyman Braunstein’s offi ce
