Teachers Shantell King (left), of PS 160 in the Bronx, and Tajma Roberts, of Brooklyn’s PS 397, provide some holiday cheer at their emoji-snowflake craft station at the UFT’s holiday party for students in need.
A magician dazzles kids with sleight-of-hand tricks.
Shanker Hall was decked in holiday style on Dec. 7, as the UFT welcomed children from six city shelters to the union’s annual holiday party organized in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless.
As of press time on Dec. 10, UFT members had donated over 1,000 toys and more than $2,200 to the union’s toy drive, which is organized each year by the UFT Elementary Schools Division for students in need. UFT volunteers transformed Shanker Hall into a wonderland of candy-cane balloons, games and crafts for the children. UFT Treasurer Victoria Lee delighted the kids with her face-painting skills. Students from Queens Technical HS offered custom beaded bracelets, as well as nail art for the partygoers. There were even two DJs who spun holiday tunes for all to enjoy.
“The kids really enjoyed it,” said Tajma Roberts, a 3rd-grade special education teacher at PS 397 in Brooklyn who volunteered to help the children make snowflake ornaments with emoji stickers. “I’ll definitely come again next year.”
The party is a welcome respite for students living in temporary housing. “The Elementary Schools Division team works hard to ensure the partygoers, our students, have an enjoyable time,” said UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford. “Our members who volunteer also receive so much in return.”
After a festive lunch, a magician mesmerized the children, who cheered and waved the hand-clapper noisemakers they’d received in goodie bags on arrival.
Then the man of the hour — Santa Claus — came to town, otherwise known as UFT headquarters.
“Can I get a ho, ho, ho?” he called, and the kids answered with gusto.
The children told Santa what they wanted for Christmas — an informal exit poll revealed iPhones and Barbies were high on the list of many — and then they and their adult chaperones took to the dance floor to the sounds of bachata and Bad Bunny.
Before they boarded buses for the return trip, the children were given a gift box filled with an age-appropriate toy.
“It’s my favorite event of the year,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew, “but bittersweet, because we shouldn’t even have kids who need this.”
