On Monday, December 15th, 2020, kids at a Harlem public school with a high percentage of homeless students got some extra holiday cheer.
The holiday cheer came in the form of a toy donation from a Harlem organization.
The gifts were presented to about 100 students at P.S. 76 A. Philip Randolph, one of two schools featured in a New York Times article last year for having a high ratio of housed students.
They were donated by The Sled, a network of mothers that formed in response to the article.
Unlike many toy drives, this one gave children the chance to choose their own gifts.
Stepping in as Santa Claus was Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who donned a festive red hat for the occasion.
“I was so proud to have played a part in the effort to bring joy to the students of P.S. 76 today, and to other public schools with high ratios of under-housed students and family homeless shelters around the city by helping to deliver gifts and care packages from The Sled,” Brewer said.
Charles DeBerry, principal of P.S. 76, called the giveaway “very exciting for the families and staff of our community.”
Since the start of the pandemic, the Sled has also helped provide groceries, clothing, coats, and furniture to P.S. 76 families, including those transitioning from shelters into permanent housing.
After initially focusing on the two public schools profiled in last year’s Times article, the organization has expanded to serve six public schools and six family shelters.
Photo credit: Gale Brewer.
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