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QUEENS WEEKLY, DEC. 23, 2018
Flushing BID hosts annual Toy Drive
Nearly 400 toys donated to community children to help celebrate holiday season
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
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BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The Flushing Business
Improvement District
helped spread holiday joy
and cheer Friday delivering
around 400 toys to children
in need from the community
at its 2018 Toy Drive.
On Dec. 14, Children’s
faces were lit with excitement
as they entered the
room filled with toys at the
Sheraton LaGuardia East
Hotel at 135-20 39th Ave.
City Councilman Peter
Koo and a representative
from state Sen. Toby Ann
Stavisky’s office were joined
by representatives from the
Flushing BID Toy Drive:
Macy’s, Kent’s Realty, Cooper
Hotel Investors, Golden
Eagle Senior Center (Vivian),
Taiwanese Chambers of
Commerce of North America,
Flushing Wedding and
Gerard Harrington Design.
This is the Flushing
BID’s second annual toy
drive giving back to the
community according to
Dian Yu, executive director
of the Flushing BID.
“We think this is a great
gift because the Flushing
BID serves as the bridge
between the businesses and
city agencies. We are also
the bridge between the local
community as well because
we not only serve the businesses,
the property owners,
we also serve the residents,”
said Yu. “This is a great opportunity
for us to connect
with the community.”
Last year, the Flushing
BID delivered more than 290
gifts in their first toy drive.
The organization is looking
to expand on donations next
year, said Yu.
“What we do believe is
that when we pick a gift,
we’re not just buying gifts.
We always ask their age,
gender, so we can buy the
gifts,” said Yu. “My staff
works hard on every gift.
They want to make sure
it’s educational.”
The Flushing BID also
works with the NewYork-
Presbyterian Queens Hospital
to deliver toys to children
who are sick.
“Every kid is special
and when they get a gift,
they’ll feel unique and know
they’re treated with love,”
said Yu, whose board members
began collecting toys
two months ago.
“All the money that we
raise is from the Flushing
BID board members,” Yu
added. “That allows us to do
the right thing. I enjoyed doing
it because to see all those
kids with the smiles on their
face is just worth it.”
This year, the Flushing
BID is working with local
organizations such as the
Charles B. Wang Community
Health Center; Chinese
Christian Herald Crusades;
MLK Day Care Center; CPC
Queens Early Childhood
Center; James A. Bland Resident
Association; Garden of
Hope; and NewYork-Presbyterian
Queens Hospital.
Dennis Chuang, a
board member of the Taiwanese
Chambers of Commerce
of North America
and Flushing BID sponsor
of the event, said it helps
them to better celebrate
the holiday season.
“Back then I think there
weren’t many non-profit
organizations such as the
Flushing BID that really
kind of advocated and
championed … and be kind
of the liaison with the various
city local agencies, and
also the business vendors to
help the community grow,”
said Chuang. “I think
Flushing BID beyond the
toy drive that was brought
today brought a lot of smiles
to a lot of families.”
Isiah Mui, a clinical
supervisor at The Child
Center of New York, said
their children have benefited
a great deal from the
Flushing BID.
“It’s very meaningful.
Last year we were here for
their toy drive and they donated
a lot of gifts. We serve
a lot of children who are in
impoverished low-income
areas, and it’s instrumental
in bringing joy to the
holidays,” said Mui. “I think
what they’re doing for the
community is great.”
The Flushing Business Improvement District delivered around 400 toys to kids in the community at their second annual Toy
Drive on Dec. 14. Photos by Carlotta Mohamed
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