Our Winter Wishes program gives children, teens, families, and seniors the opportunity to write letters requesting holiday gifts. Many of these New Yorkers are living in homeless shelters or come to us through our Community Partners. Our volunteers read through the letters and purchase gifts to bring holiday cheer to some of the city’s most in-need residents.

This year, many of our letters were already assigned and fulfilled before Hurricane Sandy hit. We knew more children and families would have holiday requests following the storm, and that even more New Yorkers would want to help out. So we found more organizations affected by Sandy and are working hard to fill their requests and bring more holiday cheer to places where it’s needed most.

One organization in need is United Cerebral Palsy of New York. Meg Mendelson, the School Psychologist there, said “As you know Staten Island was badly affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our preschool was closed for a week due to lack of electricity. Luckily we are not located near the water, so the building was not physically damaged. Several of our children were not so lucky. This drastic change in their lives has been quite disruptive and traumatizing, as it would be for any child, but especially for a special needs child. We also have several staff members who were affected, including one who totally lost her home. Despite this, they are putting aside their troubles to come to school and help our children because they realize how much they are needed by the children. Our staff is so appreciative with all the help that New York Cares is giving to our children.”

If you want to help the children of United Cerebral Palsy, and other organizations hit by Hurricane Sandy, visit our Winter Wishes page. Gift regisitries are set up so you can purchase gifts online. Buy a gift today and bring the holidays to more New Yorkers.

By Susan Torres