NOT ALL OF SANTA's TOYS COME FROM THE NORTH POLE

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As you can imagine, Santa gets thousands of letters each year.  One letter has stood out more than any other, a letter from Mike M. Jr. of Brooklyn, New York.
 

Mike's father is a custodial engineer at a residential apartment house in Brooklyn, New York.  Mike Sr. is a hard working man of nominal means, but a saint in every sense of the word.
 

One time Mike (Sr.) witnessed a motor vehicle accident involving a small school bus.  In the blink of an eye, Mike Sr. was on top of the overturned school bus, pulling children out of the overturned vehicle, even before the wheels stopped spinning.  I doubt he even gave a momentary thought to his actions, he just went into high gear and responded to what had to be done.  There is no doubt in my mind that Mike Sr. is a true unsung hero.
 

Just like any average 7 year old boy, Mike's letter was primarily a list of things he wanted Santa to deliver for Christmas.  He gave his letter to Santa on a Christmas day gift drop off.  While reading the list, I realized that many of the items didn't seem appropriate for a 7 year old boy, so I asked Mike about his list.
 

Mike explained that the black boots he requested weren’t for him, they were for his father.  The camera he asked for wasn't for him, but for his mother who wished she had a camera to take pictures of her kid when Santa visited.  The various toys and games weren’t for him, but rather for his brothers and cousins.  Imagine all this, coming from a 7 year old boy!!!  Now that's the proper holiday spirit.
 

Well Mike's letter is one of the driving forces behind this Santa.
 

Oh and by the way, Santa made a late drop off, and Mike's list was fulfilled.
 

Please feel free to drop Santa or the Elfs a letter, either by snail mail or eMail.  They will try to reply as quickly as possible.  Please keep in mind that as we get closer to Christmas, Santa and the Elfs are extremely busy and it may take a while for them to respond, but as long as you have a return address or eMail address, respond they will.

Christmas and Chanukah are a special time of year for celebration and should not end in tragedy because of the extra hazards that are present at this time of year.
 

Christmas tree lights, multiple sets of lights, electric menorahs, and other kinds of decorative lights, are used less often than your everyday lights, and they need more care.  Check the fuses are the right type (see their original boxes for the maximum size of fuse you should use).
 

If bulbs blow, replace them
Don’t leave lights on when you go out or go to sleep
Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can easily burn, like paper or window shades or curtains
Don’t overload sockets.

Decorations
​Decorations made of light tissue paper or cardboard burn easily
on’t attach them to lights or heaters
Don’t put them immediately above or around a fireplace
Keep them away from candles

Christmas Trees
Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping alive tree in the house.  A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
 

When selecting a tree for Christmas, needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches.  The needles should not break if the tree had been freshly cut.  The trunk should be sticky to the touch.
 

Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground.  If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
 

Caring For Your Tree

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace, radiator or heat vent.  The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks.  Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.  Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.  Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
 

Disposing of Your Tree

Never put trees, branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.  If your tree becomes dry, dispose of it immediately.  The best way to dispose of your tree is to take it to a recycling center or have it hauled away by a community pick up service.
 

Chanukah Menorah

Keep the Menorah and all burning candies out of children's reach; keep matches, oil and lighters out of sight and locked away.
 

Do not leave candles unattended.
Do not place the Menorah near draperies or anything that might easily catch fire.
Teach children not to touch burning candles.
If using decorative electric Menorahs, use only UL approved appliances and cords, Inspect all wires for frayed wires or broken sockets. Turn off lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
When frying latkes, always keep baking soda and a cover for the frying pan nearby.  Cover a frying pan with a frying screen to prevent grease splatters and burns.
Always keep a 10 lb. ABS fire extinguisher near the kitchen, away from the stove.

Volunteers are always welcome and although the work is tiring, it is also very rewarding.

We promise you won't be disappointed.