Atlanta Kids Send Truckload of Toys To NY Needy

Ever since the Sep. 11 tragedy occurred, many Americans have displayed their support to New Yorkers.
But none more than a group of homeless children from Atlanta, who recently shipped a truckload of toys to the Big Apple, to be distributed at four City shelters.
The toys, collected by the Childrens Restoration Network (CRN) in Atlanta, were delivered to the shelters on Dec. 20. The program was planned in conjunction with St. Christopher-Ottilies services a local foster care agency.
St. Christopher-Ottilie looks after approximately 3,000 children, says Bob McMahon, who is the Executive Director of the organization. "We temporarily care for them until we are able to help resolve problems in the home. If that does not work, we work to get them adopted." The group was established in 1985 and has been helping children in Brooklyn and Queens ever since.
The Children’s Restoration Network(CRN) is an eight-year old non-profit organization that serves 70 homeless shelters and youth homes throughout 16 Atlanta counties. CRN’s mission is to encourage children and their parents to become active and productive citizens of the mainstream society. "Just like any other children as a result of the September 11th tragedy, these kids wanted to express themselves and show their sympathies to kids in New York who reside in youth homes and homeless shelters," said Jim Cox, president of CRN.
Though a new program called "Kids Embracing Kids", the southern kids were able to reach out to needy peers hundreds of miles away. "We provided an avenue for children of Atlanta youth homes to play an active role in displaying patriotism through giving the gift of love, sharing, and caring."
Rick Teichert and Stephen Morgan sacrificed their time to drive from Atlanta to New York to deliver the boxes of toys.
"I got lost coming into Jamaica," Teichert admitted. It was Teicherts first time delivering toys, but Morgan said his company has been delivering toys during the holidays for the past five years. Numerous boxes of toys were not only delivered to St. Christopher-Ottilies, but three prior stops.
In order to show their appreciation for the hard work the truck drivers put into making this Christmas a little brighter for the children, McMahon and Yara Aldana, who is the Assistant Executive Director of St. Christopher-Ottilies presented the truck drivers with a gift that consisted of a St. Christopher-Ottilie T-Shirt, among other things.
Handmade cards arrived safely, along with various kinds of toys ranging from Barbie dolls to Play-Doh, as well as puzzles, stickers and Pokemon figurines. "Lots of happiness in these (toy) boxes," said Aldana, in reference to the generous contribution.
Some of the toys were distributed at the Christmas parties held at St. Christopher’s, while the remaining amount were delivered to individual homes.