NYer Of The Week: Finest, Bravest
NY1 News 12/26/08
The latest New Yorkers of the Week are also New York's Bravest and Finest as they get into the holiday spirit by bringing a little Christmas cheer to the Brooklyn families they help to protect. NY1's Milanee Kapadia filed the following report.
For one local firefighter, it isn't about rushing off to a fire, it's about bringing an ambulance packed with toys to 12 needy families in Brooklyn.
"The purpose of the holiday season is to give back to extend a sense of caring and love to not only your own families and your friends but to everyone is your community and I hold New York as my community," said Bill Neari, New Yorker of the Week.
For the past 18 years, 12 members of the FDNY have been bringing presents to children and their families who write letters through the postal service's Operation Santa.
"We look forward to this every year," said Gary Smiley, New Yorker of the Week.
Smiley said he reads over 1,000 letters each year at the main post office in Brooklyn in order to find the neediest families. The presents are bought with the volunteers' own money and with the help of their union. The six kids in the Mendez family all received gifts.
"It's a way for me to give back other than what I normally do, you meet New Yorkers in very tragic situations, that's the job that we do, we're there first, we are there in their worst time. Now it's different. Now I can do it in more of a fun way," said Smiley.
Not too far from the Mendez household, the eight members of the NYPD's Juvenile Robbery Intervention Program, also known as J-RIP, handed out gifts to 92 families who live in nearby public housing. J-RIP works all year round with teens who have been in trouble with the law and their families to help them find the social services they need. Many times the officers make surprise home visits to make sure the teens are staying on track.
"Even on a regular basis people who don't want to see us, they are happy to see us and are extremely happy to get toys," said Lieutenant David Glassberg, New Yorker of the Week.
Every child received a gift made possible by Toys for Tots. The members of J-RIP wrapped 250 toys themselves and personally decided which child would receive which gift. Officer Lauryl Phillip said giving a gift to a needy child is the best gift she could receive.
"Just giving these kids these gifts this christmas I wouldn't ask for anything more," said Phillip, New Yorker of the Week.
For making a Christmas a little more cheerful for so many Brooklyn families, the gift-givers of the FDNY and NYPD are our New Yorkers of the Week.
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