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Press Releases

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Launches Halloween Relief Drive to Help Those Affected by Recent Hurricanes

Oct 30, 2017

Queens, NY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is organizing a Halloween Hurricane Relief Drive to help those suffering in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Bolstering the efforts of the City of New York, the relief drive will encourage New Yorkers to donate money and necessities to help hurricane-affected individuals and families in the South and Caribbean. Young people and their chaperones out trick-or-treating on October 31 will hand out Halloween Hurricane Relief letters to neighbors, relatives, and friends, asking them to donate money to New York City’s hurricane relief efforts.

The letters will include information about how Queens residents can support relief efforts by making monetary donations to The Mayor’s Fund (www.nyc.gov/fund). These funds will be deployed to emergency relief organizations, such as National Volunteering Organizations Active in Disaster, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army.

The relief drive seeks to make Halloween a fun way to motivate Queens residents to make a meaningful difference for those affected by hurricanes that have caused unprecedented damage in Houston, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and throughout much of the Caribbean.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is reaching out to local schools to give students the opportunity to learn about charitable efforts, as well as to make a difference for those in need. “New Yorkers, especially residents of Queens, are renowned for their generosity,” said Chris Roker, chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “This year, while their neighbors are handing out delicious treats, trick-or-treaters will in turn be handing out messages of hope. Together, we will seek to transform Halloween into a massive community service endeavor.”

“The Mayor’s Fund is a critical tool for channeling the support of New Yorkers during disasters. Time and again we are humbled by the generosity of New Yorkers, and are proud to help direct relief funds to those who need it most during these dramatic times of need. Thank you to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens for supporting children and young people in raising much needed funds for those affected by these recent disasters,” said Darren Bloch, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is also reminding parents to keep their children safe by trick-or-treating in groups and by monitoring the amount of candy they eat.

“We want to encourage parents to take steps to make Halloween healthier for their children and family,” said Dr. Marcy Stein Albert, director of Pediatrics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “The consumption of large amounts of sugar is unhealthy and can interfere with healthy hormone function and lower energy and immunity. We recommend that kids eat a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating to limit the amount of candy they eat as they make their rounds. Parents should also plan in advance how much candy their children will be allowed to collect, keep, and eat.”

For more information about the Halloween Hurricane Relief Drive, please call the hospital’s Department of External Affairs at 718-883-2134.