Tis The Season to Give: Gov. Cuomo’s Holiday Giving Drive

Tis The Season to Give: Gov. Cuomo’s Holiday Giving Drive
Gov. Andrew Cuomo poses with a family in Harlem in New York on Dec. 22. (Jane Gray/Epoch Times)
Jane Werrell
12/22/2013
Updated:
12/22/2013

NEW YORK—An NFL Wilson football, Impact Wrestling Socker Boppers, a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of Barack Obama.

These were a few of the gifts donated to New York children in the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn on Dec. 22, as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s holiday giving drive.

Today’s distribution totaled around 390 toys, 1000 coats and 880 books. 

The donations came from diverse organizations such as Carnegie Hall, youth apparel company Outerstuff, The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, First Book, and Barnes & Noble.

At one of his stops by a large brick building at Lenox Avenue in Harlem, the Governor emphasized to the crowd of parents, children and volunteers the importance of remembering those who are less fortunate during the holiday season.

The building, called the Minisink Townhouse, is home to the NYC Mission Society dedicated to helping children, youth and families who live on the breadline. 

“We have gifts, and we have presents, and we all eat too much, but that’s not really what the holidays are about,” the Governor announced.

Jarrius Bethea and Khadil Diop, both 16-year-old volunteers who were helping to give out gifts at the Minisink Townhouse, felt great to take part in the toy drive.

“To help families who are less fortunate than us, it’s a really good feeling,” Diop said.