2022 Holiday Traditions: What is your firehouse / department doing? (send us your pictures, videos, events, and stories)
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I guess there or the 2-7 would be the furthest relocation they could do.
Santa Visits NYC Children With Help From FDNY’s Massive Fire Truck Ladder
CLAIRE LEADEN - EDITOR • DECEMBER 18, 2020
Now here’s a sweet holiday story!
Or you can even call it a Christmas “miracle,” and those involved have taken to calling it the “Miracle on 73rd St.”!Last night, Dec. 17, and NYPD and FDNY teamed up to make this Christmas one to remember for the children at the Ronald McDonald House on 73rd St. on the Upper East Side. Though they usually pay a holiday visit to the non-profit, bringing wrapped gifts and holiday cheer, this year proved to be a different matter.
With many of the children experiencing serious illnesses, it was too risky to have an in-person visit from Santa, even with face masks on. So, instead they put Kris Kringle himself up in the fire truck ladder and let children see him right from their own rooms!
“This year was a little more challenging because of COVID,” explained officer Patrick Conley, who has been working on this holiday effort with the Ronald McDonald House since 2011. “So we really had to think outside of the box in terms of how we’re going to make it happen, and we teamed up with FDNY Engine 44, and we made it happen…that’s why we’re calling it the miracle on 73rd Street.”
Children were able to peer out the windows of their rooms and wave to Santa, hoisted high above the NYC streets thanks to the giant ladder on the FDNY’s firetruck.
“This year especially has been really hard for families,” said Nicole Kelly from the Ronald McDonald House. “So being able to bring this cheer and all the excitement right to their rooms, in the safety of their own rooms, it makes their week just a little bit brighter when everything’s a bit more difficult.”
Santa Visits NYC Children With Help From FDNY’s Massive Fire Truck Ladder
Now here's a sweet holiday story! Or you can even call it a Christmas "miracle," and those involved have taken to calling it the "Miracle on 73rd St."!
secretnyc.co
The FDNY lifted Santa up in a bucket truck to wave to children in their rooms at the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan. (NY1/Justine Re)
MANHATTAN
Miracle on 73rd Street brings holiday cheer to kids in Manhattan
BY JUSTINE RE MANHATTANPUBLISHED 9:25 PM ET DEC. 07, 2022
Santa Claus rose high in the sky, waving to children for the holidays at Miracle on 73rd Street in Manhattan Wednesday.
The children who were waving from indoors have it harder this holiday.
They are fighting cancer and other illnesses while staying at the Ronald McDonald House and receiving treatment.
What You Need To Know
- Santa Claus brought holiday cheer to children for Miracle on 73rd Street in Manhattan
- Some of the children who took part have cancer and other illnesses
- The event was put on by the Ronald McDonald House, FDNY and NYPD
- The FDNY lifted Santa up in a bucket truck to wave to children in their rooms
“This is really amazing we’ve never experienced anything like this,” Nga Lemoine, a parent, said.
Lemoine and her 7-year-old daughter, Elena, are from Maryland and are staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
“Since we are away from home, this is really our second home right now and it’s magical and Santa is behind us, so how much fun is that,” Lemoine said.
Children and families from all over the country and world stay at the Ronald McDonald House on 73rd Street.
“We literally have a house with children who are immunocompromised have not been able to go out because of the pandemic and we are bringing the holidays to them,” Ruth Brown, president and CEO of the Ronald McDonald House, New York, said.
It was a team effort. The FDNY provided the bucket truck to get Santa to the children.
“They’re going through hell cancer treatments and everything like that just for a moment in their day to put a smile on their face and Mom and Dad’s face it’s hard for them too,” FDNY Lieutenant Bobby Jones said.
Jones and his fire house and the NYPD have worked with Ronald McDonald House for over 35 years.
The method of hoisting Santa up started during the pandemic, since Santa could not go into the rooms with children.
“We ran this idea by them. ‘What [do] you say we take a fire truck out Santa in the bucket and bring him up to the windows,” Jones said, explaining how the concept was made.
Officer PJ Conley was part of the team planning Miracle on 73 Street
“It’s an incredible feeling to be able to bring smiles to all of these kids’ faces. These kids can’t go home on Christmas, can’t go home on the holidays and it’s an amazing feeling,” Conley said, sharing why he does it.
Kids in the community, like 8-year-old Elena Gonzalez, appreciate the festive visit from Santa.
“It’s very cool because he gets ti wave to you and you get to speak to him and take photos,” Gonzalez said.
There were also a ton of presents given to the children.
The FDNY and NYPD worked with Fund the First, where they raised more than $6,100 for gifts for the children and their siblings.
The remaining funds will go toward the Ronald McDonald House.
Miracle on 73rd Street brings holiday cheer to kids in Manhattan
Justine Re reports on the impact of this festive tradition.
www.ny1.com
EMS STATION 13
The official Tumblr for the New York City Fire Department, FDNY. www.nyc.gov/fdny
Paramedics and EMTs from EMS Station 13 brought holiday joy to 24 children at the International Academy of HOPE (iHOPE) in Harlem on Dec. 17, hosting a party for the deserving kids. iHOPE is a specialized school for children with brain injuries, with students ranging in age from 5 to 17.
The official Tumblr for the New York City Fire Department, FDNY. www.nyc.gov/fdny
Paramedics and EMTs from EMS Station 13 brought holiday joy to 24 children at the International Academy of HOPE (iHOPE) in Harlem on Dec. 17, hosting a party for the deserving kids. iHOPE is a specialized school for children with brain injuries, with students ranging in age from 5 to 17.
