NYPD and FDNY help to create a
‘Miracle’ on 73rd Street in Yorkville
BY DEAN MOSES
This year, Santa Claus was
faced with an unprecedented
conundrum the
jolly treasure couldn’t solve alone.
The NYPD joins St. Nick every
holiday season at the Ronald
McDonald House located on 405
East 73rd Street to distribute gifts
and meet the young residents suffering
from severe illnesses. However,
in our post-pandemic world,
the possibility of transferring COVID
19 to some of the adolescent
patients during the annual event
was too great a risk. In order to
keep spreading the holiday cheer,
Santa called upon some local New
York heroes for help.
Santa told residents of Ronald McDonald House that he would
see them soon.
Emergency services briefly
blocked off East 73rd Street
between First and York Avenues
where FDNY Engine Company
44 parked their fi re truck directly
outside of Ronald McDonald
House. Children fl ocked to their
windows at the sight of pulsating
red lights strewn across their
walls from the icy road below.
Dressed in pajamas, they waved
frantically at members of the
FDNY and NYPD, and then it
happened — Santa Claus arrived.
Ringing a bell, Santa traded in
his classic sleigh and reindeer for
the ladder bucket of the Engine
44, where the FDNY lifted him
into the chilly air and right up to
the excited patients who managed
to see their holiday hero up close
and personal against all odds,
and without having to leave their
rooms. Tiny arms could be seen
outstretched from their windows
as cries of “Santa!” reverberated
off nearby buildings.
Although it looked very different
this year, the annual event
organized by Offi cer PJ Conley,
along with other members of
the NYPD’s 19th Precinct was
made possible thanks to Fund
the First, a trusted and verifi ed
crowdfunding platform solely
created for fi rst responders and
military personnel.
Using this virtual donation
site, they received over $4,000
to purchase toys. Once all of the
gifts were accumulated, they were
able to donate $1,430 directly to
Ronald McDonald House.
“These kids are going through
some of the toughest times in their
lives, and to be able to bring a
smile on their face around Christmas
time, especially in 2020 with
all of the COVID stuff going on, it
means the world to me to be able
to do this every year, and to be
able to team up with the FDNY.
It’s a special occasion. That is why
we are calling it the Miracle on
73rd Street. We didn’t think it
would happen with COVID, but
we made it happen,” said Conley.
The joy of giving is what keeps
Conley coming back to organize
the event. Even in normal circumstances,
it’s a trying task gathering
funds and working out logistics,
but the ability to shed happiness
on children who need it the
NYPD officers reached out to a young resident of the Ronald
McDonald House.
most trumps any obstacle, even
COVID. Normally, the NYPD is
able to distribute the toys directly
to the children, however since
many of them have compromised
immune systems they decided to
be creative on how to make it a
A firefighter shares a special moment.
special holiday. FDNY fi refi ghter
Bobby Jones devised a plan with
PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
Conley to implement the fi retruck
as Santa’s sleigh.
“Being able to do this every
year, and just bring joy to people,
it’s an incredible feeling,” Conley
said.
The elation was too much for
some children, who rushed to
the lobby where they interacted
with offi cers and fi refi ghters
through the glass in some truly
heartwarming moments. One
young man even stepped foot
outside where he was greeted
with a standing ovation and
afforded an opportunity to ring
Santa’s bell.
Fund the First began assisting
the NYPD’s 19th Precinct’s toy
drive at New York-Presbyterian
Hospital last year. Kevin Darcey,
Chief Marketing Officer and
co-founder and Robert Garland,
CEO and founder, were so inspired
that they decided to take
part in the event again this year.
Santa, members of the NYPD 19th Precinct, and FDNY Engine
44 presented Ronald McDonald House with a check for $1,430.
4 December 24, 2020 Schneps Media