Amalgamated Bank Helps Collect Toys, Clothes For Kids

For the fourth year in a row, Councilman Eric Gioia joined Pastor Mitchell G. Taylor, Fresh Direct, and their newest partner, Amalgamated Bank, to give away hundreds of turkeys to residents of Queensbridge Houses. Here, Gioia stands with Taylor and Dean Furbush of Fresh Direct to give a turkey to a Queensbridge resident.

More fortunate New Yorkers who want to spread joy this holiday season can partner with the Caribbean American Center of New York (CACNY). The organization is conducting a toy and clothing drive and the gifts will be given to 2,500 homeless and underprivileged children throughout the city.

As a first-time, major sponsor of CACNY's ninth annual holiday celebration, Amalgamated Bank and its employees will collect at its nine branches in The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens new, unwrapped toys and clothes for children one to 10 years of age as well as financial contributions. The bank will gather colorful gift bags and presents such as action figures, dolls, sports gear, board games, winter jackets, boots and sweaters that can be placed in decorated, holiday boxes, brightening the lobby of each branch.

"We are supporting the 'Help a Child Enjoy the Holiday!' project because year after year the CACNY's holiday gift drive has brought great joy to thousands of children throughout New York City," Peter Mosbacher, Amalgamated Bank senior vice president of CRA and government and community relations, said. "Participating in the toy drive reflects the bank's legacy and our mission of serving the families of low-income workers. Our customers, managers and other employees invite the people of New York City to join us in making this a very memorable holiday for so many children."

"We started this project nine years ago because I heard there were approximately 20,000 children actually living in the city's homeless shelters at the time and we wanted to do something different for them as well as for many other needy kids in our immediate communities," CACNY Executive Director Jean Alexander said. "The effort is very challenging, but brings great satisfaction to those who are involved in the program. We began by helping the children in four shelters and now we are reaching out to 14. This year we expect to accommodate even more shelters with Amalgamated Bank's help."

Toys and other gifts collected by Amalgamated Bank and various organizations will be presented to the children during two joyous events in December. The first event, complete with holiday decorations, face painters, music and Caribbean and American holiday food, will be held at the Brooklyn Memorial Building at 195 Cadman Plaza West in Brooklyn on December 15 at 5:30 p.m. A second and equally festive celebration will take place in the Calypso City Entertainment Center at 121-08 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill on December 17 at 3 p.m.

The unwrapped toys and new clothes can be brought to the following Amalgamated Bank branch in Queens (contact the location for its hours of operation): 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Ave. (at Parsons Boulevard); 718- 380-7083.

Established in 1923 by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Amalgamated Bank has distinguished itself as the working person's bank. The institution, which is an FDIC insured commercial bank with $4.2 billion in assets, currently has nine branches in New York City as well as one branch in New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Southern California. Amalgamated Bank is owned by

UNITE HERE, the labor union formed in 2004 by the merger of UNITE, the clothing, textile and needle trades union, and HERE, the hotel and restaurant employees union. In addition, a number of UNITE HERE locals and joint boards have a stake in the bank. The corporation's Web site is www.amalgamatedbank. com.