Spreading toys and joy this holiday season
Council Member Sandra Ung (left) and COMPASS Program Director T’yana Coutrier (far right) with participants of The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q.
‘Twas truly the season for joy, giving, and gratitude at The Child Center of NY! Friends and supporters showed up for our families in a big way, leaving no doubt that there is a whole community that cares about them and considers them part of our larger New York family.
With this Photo of the Month, we especially want to thank New York City Council Member Sandra Ung, who stopped by our DYCD-funded COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q in Flushing to deliver toys and sports equipment to our children for the holidays. As you can see, Council Member Ung delivered not just presents, but smiles, too!
“Government and government officials, and what they do, can seem abstract to children this age,” says T’yana Coutrier, the COMPASS P.S. 24 program director. “This was a wonderful way to talk to the children about public service and what it means to be part of a community—and, most important, for them to experience joy!”
Between individual efforts like Council Member Ung’s visit and The Child Center’s annual holiday drive, we truly had kids covered this season!
The holidays can be a difficult time for families who face daunting financial challenges but, like all of us, want their children to have a gift to unwrap. The Child Center of NY’s holiday drive aims to bridge the gap and bring unexpected joy to our families by offering new, unwrapped toys and gift cards during this special time of year. Thank you to all who contributed to our drive and played a part in creating a season of giving and a lifetime of smiles!
Editor’s Note: While our holiday drive has ended, you still can bring joy to a child’s life and contribute to the spirit of giving by supporting our programming. A gift of any size helps children grow emotionally, thrive academically, and reach their full potential.
