50 The Queens Courier • kids & education • DECEMBER 26, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com s kids & education THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes Children at the Queens Center for Progress Children’s Center got a visit from Santa and received bundles of toys. Rotary, cops give back to kids BY MAGIE HAYES [email protected] Santa and Frosty the Snowman paid a visit to children at the Queens Centers for Progress (QCP), bringing holiday cheer with them once more. Now in its 16th year, QCP has partnered with the Jamaica Rotary Club to give toys to kids at the children’s center. NYPD Community Affairs officers from the Queens South division joined in as well. The children, who have cerebral palsy or other types of developmental disabilities, excitedly accepted stuffed animals, dolls and trucks from Rotary Club president Joe Iaboni, dressed as Santa, and his trusty sidekick Frosty on Wednesday, December 18. “It’s a good feeling for the holidays,” Iaboni said. “We can fight crime, but also make kids happy and smile.” Maureen Lovetro, a Rotary Club member with cerebral palsy, dressed up her dog companion, Drake, as Santa to give the kids a little extra Christmas cheer. “Because I have a disability, I feel like I was one of those kids, and a lot of people helped me out,” she said, “I have a true appreciation and respect for them.” Nancy Glass, QCP Children’s Center Director, said having the Jamaica Rotary back again for the toy distribution is “like having family coming back to visit and helping us celebrate.” Iaboni said it’s about “companionship” and letting the children know they and the police officers are there. “We can show them there’s somebody to protect them,” he said. Co-op brings holiday cheer to kids BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO raised money, together with business [email protected] partners, to bring holiday cheer to the students at the school. Students from the Lexington Friday morning Santa Claus, who School for the Deaf & Center for was played by Louis Tixin a resident the Deaf got a surprise visit from Ol’ of the Windsor Park Co-Op Saint Nick, who brought a bagful of and Lexington School administrator, presents and filled classrooms with moved from classroom to classroom smiles. dropping off presents and taking On Friday, December 20, the pictures with the girls and boys. The Windsor Park Co-Op, a cooperative older students got to participate in a with over 1,800 families in Bayside, holiday pizza party, also provided by joined the staff at the Lexington Windsor Park, later in the day. School for the Deaf & Center for the Some students were also taken on Deaf in Jackson Heights to celebrate a trip to a Barnes & Noble bookstore the holidays. where they each received $15 This is the third year the co-op has to spend on books and other items. “It’s so much fun,” said Larry Kinitsky, Windsor Park Co-Op Board of Directors president. “You should just see the joy on their faces.” The Lexington School, founded in 1865, is the largest school for deaf students in New York State and teaches deaf children from ages 0-21. “It’s wonderful to see how ecstatic the kids are,” said Donald A. Galloway, superintendent and CEO, speaking through a sign language interpreter. “I just love watching their faces. Their faces light up. My students are my number one investment, that’s my motto.” THE COURIER/ Photos by Mike DiBartolomeo Students from the Lexington School for the Deaf & Center for the Deaf got a surprise visit from Ol’ Saint Nick.
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