New York Daily News

A Claus célèbre

Blaz, Rev. Al spread cheer with gifts and gab

- BY MOLLY CRANE-NEWMAN and REUVEN BLAU Left to right, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Mayor de Blasio dish out gifts and holiday supper at National Action Network party in Harlem on Monday.

VOLUNTEERS throughout the city made Christmas a little merrier for those in need — with toys, coats, hot meals and a side of politics

Mayor de Blasio and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined forces to spread cheer with a holiday meal and toy giveaway at the National Action Network’s headquarte­rs in Harlem.

“Today feels awesome,” said Raymona Williams, 42, of Harlem, who attended the community meal. “I have tears in my eyes. I have to keep fighting them back. Just to give back, this is just beautiful.”

Her daughter, Mylan Guinyard, 7, was excited to meet de Blasio. The mayor gave her a Barbie doll.

“You get to open presents and get whatever you want,” said Mylan, who attends Success Academy Harlem 1.

Before the event kicked off, de Blasio touted the city’s historical­ly low crime numbers — and discussed a new goal.

“We’re already the safest big city in America because we have police and community working together now in common cause,” he told those gathered. “I want us to be the fairest big city in America. I want us to be a beacon of fairness and decency.”

Sharpton slammed President Trump’s tax plan and immigratio­n policies during the event.

“I don’t know if you ought be saying Merry Christmas or not, President Trump, because you’re not on the right side of any of those issues,” Sharpton said.

Also in attendance was Corey Wise, the oldest of the five young men convicted of the 1989 Central Park jogger rape. The conviction­s were thrown out in 2002 after another inmate confessed and DNA linked him to the crime.

Asked if he had a word of advice for young New Yorkers spending Christmas behind bars this year, Wise said, “I know it’s easier said than done, but stay strong. If I can do it, you can do it.”

Meanwhile, in lower Manhattan, New York Cares volunteers helped distribute winter coats to more than 150 homeless men, women and children at the New York City Rescue Mission, the oldest homeless shelter in the country.

The needy waited in a long line outside and then made their selection from coats laid out on tables.

Three Luciano children — Genesis, 9, Lucian, 6, and Danielle, 5 — were excited after they each found new coats in their sizes.

They are among the 22,829 homeless children in the city, records show.

“While many of us will receive so much during this holiday season, it is important to remember those who go without even basic necessitie­s,” said New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagley. “With temperatur­es dropping, these donations are necessary to help keep our fellow New Yorkers warm.”

The group is aiming to collect 125,000 coats during its annual coat drive to meet the ever-increasing demand.

Those looking to help can donate slightly used, freshly laundered coats at hundreds of locations throughout the city. That includes all NYPD precincts, Penn Station and Grand Central Station through Sunday.

Coats are needed for children, women and men, particular­ly larger men’s sizes.

People can also donate $20 for the purchase and delivery of a new coat by texting “COAT” to 41444.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States