Yahel, 7, picked the Space Shuttle Endeavor replica because the cockpit lit up red, and it mimicked the takeoff sound of a real shuttle. Haylee, 11, went decidedly to the doctor’s kit playset because she has a doll at home that she wants to keep healthy. Emmanuel, 8, peered through the hundreds of free toys before choosing purple a Yoshi plushy doll because he is a fan of the Super Mario Brothers video game.
The three children selected their toys at RaisingHealth’s Winter Wonderland, where more than 400 families gathered for free toys, warm meals, resources and more. The event held on Saturday, Dec. 14 is one of many citywide efforts held by local organizations to assist immigrant communities during the holiday season. Four organizations that spoke with Documented said they want to bring extra joy to the communities they serve.
“This is very exciting for my kids because they look forward to Christmas as soon as [Thanksgiving] is over. They ask for presents, so it makes me happy to see them happy,” Amelia Canete, 42, said. “They didn’t know about the event until I surprised them this morning after breakfast.”
Canete attended the event with her three children, including Emmanuel. She said the assistance from the organization has been crucial for the family. Two of her kids attend after-school arts and literature programs hosted by RaisingHealth.
“It is beautiful that they have events like these,” Canete said, sending Emmanuel with his Yoshi toy to a table nearby where volunteers wrapped gifts in bright wrapping paper.
RaisingHealth has been a staple in Sunset Park for more than a decade helping immigrant and local communities access health resources and information about social programs. This is the third year of the annual toy giveaway.
This year the event gathered their biggest attendance to date and provided more offerings than previous years, said Hewett Chiu, president and CEO of RaisingHealth. “We also have hot food distribution and fresh fruit, along with the usual resources for education and [health] screenings, along with our toy distribution and a full set of programming.”
The majority of the attendees were of Hispanic and Asian descent, which is representative of the demographics of Sunset Park where 44 percent of the residents are foreign-born, according to census data. Aside from toy distribution, the programming included performances by the Mexican dance company Ballet Folkorico Quetzalcóa, carol singing by members from RaisingHealth and even a magic show.
“Sunset Park is a diverse community and we want to be entirely inclusive. [We] need to be accessible in all forms, language, and culture,” Chiu said. That starts with the catering, as the free meals covered both Asian and Latino family favorites.
A sense of belonging
That same day, at the Herald Gospel Plaza in Flushing, over 200 families gathered for a Christmas carnival event hosted by the Chinese Christian Herald Crusades (CCHC) Immigration Services Center. The event provided immigrant families with gifts, popcorn, and performances, while also offering resources and information to support the local Asian community — especially recently arrived asylum seekers.
“Even though we can’t solve every challenge immigrants face, we want to provide an opportunity for them to feel joy and support during the holidays,” Rev. Mike Chan, Executive Director of New York Ministries at CCHC, said. The event also offered services like IDNYC application assistance, ITIN registrations, and food stamp enrollment.
JG, 40, a Chinese asylum seeker who has been in New York since last year, volunteered on behalf of RISE NOW, Inc. — a nonprofit providing technical skills to low-income individuals. JG — who requested Documented to only use his initials due to his pending asylum application — said he spent his first Christmas after he arrived from Shenzhen, China in Flushing, where he received winter clothing and gifts from the community.
“I was deeply grateful for the support I received, and it inspired me to pursue a career in nonprofit helping others,” he said. “My life is starting to stabilize, and I feel less anxious. I’ve found a career I enjoy and a path forward.”
He said he wants to give back to the community and help new arrivals the same way he was helped.
Carrie Liu, a Flushing mother who came to the U.S. more than a decade ago, brought her 9-year-old daughter and 13-year-old daughter with special needs. After receiving a doll from the toy giveaway, the 13-year-old began humming happily. Liu described the event as a meaningful opportunity for connection.
“These community resources, like after-school programs, are incredibly helpful,” Liu said, gesturing toward a bag filled with brochures. “It’s events like these that help us integrate into life here more quickly. I feel like this is truly my community.”
Organizations citywide have increased efforts to provide extra joy for recently arrived migrants during the holidays. Open Hearts Initiative, a volunteer-run nonprofit with seven chapters around the city, hosts an “Adopt a Family” program where people can buy toys and other gifts for immigrant families in temporary shelters.
“There are 129 families at the Bentley Hotel who have signed up to receive gifts and put in specific requests. Some of them are just requests from the kids but a lot of the parents request things too, which is really nice,” Caroline Schwab, Neighborhood Organizer at Open Hearts Initiative, said.
The nonprofit serves more than 500 residents in the Upper West Side, many of whom rely on them year-round for clothes, toiletries and other necessities, she added. They plan to pack 180 stockings with stickers, hats, gloves and candy to be distributed to residents at the Newtown Hotel and the Riverside Terrace shelter. “We want to make sure there is something for everyone,” Schwab said.
“After the election, many immigrants felt a sense of fear and uncertainty, like a cloud hanging over the community,” Rev. Chan said. “While we can’t fix everything, we can provide guidance and hope to guide new immigrants to follow the law and settle down here.”
注意啦！纽约市垃圾处理新规有这些，不遵守将被罚款
Want to help the organizations mentioned in this article?
RaisingHealth: Volunteer | Donation link
Open Hearts Initiative: Volunteer | Donation link | Stocking wishlist
Chinese Christian Herald Crusades: Donate
Also Read: Donations and Volunteers Needed to Help Migrants in NYC
