In a January 2023 letter, the Gramercy Park Block Association reported collecting more than 200 toys for more than 70 children at Nathan Straus Houses, from infants to teenagers. The photographs show the people who helped bring the gifts together.
The follow-up gave neighbors a concrete picture of where their support had gone, extending the Block Association’s wider holiday-giving story.
The Block Association identified 13th Precinct Youth Officer Ronel Phillip as the drive’s coordinator. NYPD Explorers, Youth Coordination Officers, Neighborhood Coordination Officers, and Housing and Domestic Violence Officers also supported the effort.
The Block Association described its sponsorship of the drive as an annual commitment.
The Explorers’ participation connects this collection with the Block Association’s longstanding support for the youth program. The broader holiday toy-drive history follows gifts to other community partners over many seasons.
Explore the Block Association’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors programs.
