Christmas joy was spread at a Bronx health center with the help of a very generous out-of-state charity organization.
All kids deserve gifts during the Christmas season, and that is exactly how the staff feels at Union Community Health Center on E. 188th Street. In fact for the second year in a row, the health center teamed up with Al’s Angels to make sure that every child got a nice present.
Al’s Angels is a non-profit charitable organization from Connecticut owned by Al DiGuido. Its mission is to raise money throughout the year to provide as many gifts as they can for children during the holiday season in the tri-state area.
“When I look at these kids, their smiles really mean a lot to me and my family,” said Al. “We always think about how blessed we are to have everything that we have and I feel obligated to give back to those who are sick and needy.”
Not only were gifts given out to all of the children, but DiGuido himself dressed as Santa Claus in a holiday decorated room inside the health center. In fact his wife Chris and his family were on hand to help him take pictures and give out the gifts. Chris DiGuido has been helping her husband with the organization since it began in 2004 and according to her, the opprotunity to help chilrdren and their families never gets old.
The giveaway lasted approximately two hours. In that time, over 200 gifts were distributed to the kids, as well as candy canes, cookies and teddy bears.
Some of the staff of Union Community Health Center were present to hand out cookies and juice to the kids after they sat on Santa’s lap. John Tognino, chairman of Union Community Health Center board, was also present to witness the fun. He praised DiGuido and his family for all of the work they do at the health center and elsewhere every year,
“Al has been one of our greatest benefactors at the health center for two years now,” said Tognino.
