Not being a shy person I got on the phone to all the agencies, no one had anything left. Except for one shelter, that had a couple of toys. They told me to come on by and get them. Before I could even leave the house, they called me back and told me to bring a van. Word had spread very fast through the shelter about this family. The residents who had just gotten their gifts the night before, were willing to share.

The ones with the least gave the most. This caused the media to jump in. You can guess the rest. Someone even gave them a new puppy. The family had a Merry Christmas.

Stories sent in by readers
 

• It was in the mid 40's. Money was still tight. My brother came home from WW II. We were going to have a christmas tree. We didn't have one while he was gone.

He bought the tree and sent me to buy more decorations. As I walked to the store I was walking on air. My brother was home, we were going to have a tree and --- and it began to snow. The small town we lived in was desert land. Snow was unheard of. But today as in answer to a prayer, we had snow. What more could a little girl ask for?
Millie

•  I am a single Mom with two small children 5 and 8.  I read a story in a local paper about a needy family in the area.  All the mother wished for was a Christmas tree.  So after my children cleaned out their toys for the three children there I just stopped and asked if a private tree seller would donate a tree.  Well for $5.00 he did.  The children and I drove to the families home and my children looked eyeball to eyeball with these children less fortunate.  The children and I struggle alot too so I had compassion for her story. I truly hope this family does well and has a wonderful holiday.  One of my friends said "how do I know it is not a scam?"  To me it didn't matter because my children and I felt so wonderful that,as my daughter said, I feel like my heart is going to pop right out Mom.  My children experienced the true meaning of Christmas.

Lisa

Subject: will never forget Eng 257 Lad 170 Bn 58
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 21:09:25 EST
From: SCIFOUR@aol.com

It was a chilly, winter night when I entered the firehouse in which I work  at in Canarsie, Brooklyn.   When I entered the quarters of Engine 257, Ladder 170, and the 58 Battalion, it was business as usual. There was a lot of happy, smiling faces and of course a great deal of joking around( busting chops) in the kitchen.  Some guys were packing up their belongings and heading home to
their families, while others, like myself, were reporting for duty for the 6x9 tour. Due to a surplus in manpower, I would not work with the guys in L-170 tonight, but instead with guys in L-113 "The Rats".  As I walked out the door of Canarsie's Bravest, I never knew that when I said, "Take care guys and have a safe tour," it would be that last time I spoke to Lt. Cavalieri, Chris Bopp and Jimmy Bohan.

At  approximately 0434 hrs on the morning of Friday, December 18, 1998, the brothers of E-257, L-170, Bn-58 responed to a phone alarm at 17 Vandalia Ave. Little did they, I, or we know that this would be the last alarm that Joey, Chris and Jimmy, working in L-170,  would respond too.  The fire seemed almost routine until something tragic happened.  The inside team of L-170 would never return to their firehouse again.  I recieved the call around 7:00 am and I knew something bad had happened. I left the quarters of L-113 and returned to
the company that I belonged too, only to find out that three friends were gone, gone forever.  The scene was bad, Chiefs, Fire Marshalls, Firemen, Cops, and of course, a lot of people in suits that I have never seen before.  When I walked into quarters, E-257, L-170, and Bn-58 were not there. I knew the news was not good.  Engine 225, and Squad 252 were in front of quarters and a lot of guys were hugging and crying.  After a few minutes, I learned that three members of LADDER 170 were gone.  Their shoes were still scattered on the apparatus floor only never to be filled again, and the riding position board displayed their names and positions.  The pain and sorrow that the men of E-257, L-170 and the BN-58 share along with the brothers in E-262 ( where Bohan was assigned) and L-150(where Cavalieri was promoted from) is unexplainable.  This "Black Friday", December 19, 1998 will never be forgotten and neither will LT. Joseph Cavalieri, FF Christopher Bopp, and  FF James Bohan (assigned E-262).  These three brothers and friends, were true heroes
who layed their lives down for the people of the City of New York.

Please say a prayer for Joey, Chris, and Jimmy, who were taken from us, and for Frank Nastro(L-170) , John Adinolfi(L-170), Lt Young(E-257), Charles Murphy (E-257) Al Trapanese(E-257) Mike Ryan #2(E-257), Jack Paglino(E-257),
The officers and members of E-290, L-103, and Squad 252 who tried everything possible, myself for should have been there, and of course to all of the brothers, cops, and EMS personel that responded to Third Alarm Box-5-5-5-5-4080 at 17 Vandalia Ave in Brooklyn, NY on "Black Friday", December 18, 1998.

PLEASE SAY A PRAYER AND PASS THIS ON.

Timothy Wodicka L-170 FDNY

1. When donating to the local food drive, donate something you would like to receive.

2. When helping a family with Christmas, wrap only the gifts for the adults. Bring wrapping paper, tape, and tags, with the children's toys. It will bring a little extra joy for the parent(s) to wrap the kids toys.

3. Necessities are always good. However, how would you feel if the only gifts under your tree were: socks, underwear, and gloves. Toss in a little something not needed. Even if its only a box of chocolate covered cherries.

4. Most of all, preserve what pride and dignity the family has. Asking for help may be one of the hardest things that a person has ever had to do. Remind them most people have had tight years, and when things are better, they could do the same for someone else.

My Christmas dream That some local business(s), would take their last business day before Christmas, and pick-up the left over letters to Santa. The employees, could do a quick run to the store to grab the gift. All return to the office for a wrapping party. Then deliver the gifts. Other wise these families have no chance at having anything for Christmas. Maybe their family was to large, or the letter, wasn't written so well. No matter why the letter wasn't chosen, no one should be forgotten.
 
 

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