YMCA Makes It A Merry Christmas For Thousands Of New Yorkers

Grant Greenberg NY1 12/25/2010 18:33

The spirit of giving was on display in Brooklyn Saturday for thousands of needy New Yorkers who were treated to a hot meal and a Christmas gift, courtesy of the YWCA of Brooklyn and the Prospect Park YMCA.

Currie Strickland has had bouts of homelessness, but knows he always has a place to go for the holidays.

"When I come here, I feel joy and peace," Strickland said Saturday while enjoying a meal at the Park Slope Armory. "I love coming here."

You can call Lee Perlman Kris Kringle. For the 21st year, he made sure thousands of people like Strickland can enjoy Christmas dinner.

"We're creating the spirit of Christmas for anyone who needs a place to go," he explained.

This is no run-of-the-mill soup kitchen. Food is catered by area hotels, warm clothing is available for those in need, and – and the part Perlman is most proud of – every kid gets a toy.

"If the whole event was about making sure one child got a toy, it would be worth doing," Perlman said.

Tracy Sweet finds volunteering worth doing. She's been here 20 years, and this year her responsibility was to deck the halls here at the Armory.

"We probably get more out of it than the people who come," she said Saturday.

Sweet even brings her 11-year-old daughter Isabelle. Incredibly, 400 people volunteer here on Christmas Day.