Young, grandmas are Santa’s helpers

What happens when you bring together a room full of grandmothers and nearly 800 yards of fabric? You get enough stuffed toys to bring smiles to the faces of kids at the pediatric wing of New York Hospital Queens.
Assemblymember Ellen Young and seniors from the Bland House Senior Center in downtown Flushing did just that recently.
A year ago, Young secured the fabric and 100 women’s dresses from the Continental Garment Manufacturers Association of Greater NY to benefit the Bland House Senior Center’s children’s charity.
“We’re all grandmothers here at the senior center,” said their Director, Francy Zamora, adding, “We’re all very happy to be able to help these young ones this year.”
The seniors made armloads of stuffed animals and rag-dolls, which they distributed at the hospital on Main Street and Booth Memorial Avenue, on Friday, December 12.
The association’s Executive Director, Jimmy Zheng said, “I am very happy to join [in the project] this year to bring a smile to the faces of these children at New York Hospital Queens. I hope we can continue this tradition, and I encourage others to give back to the less fortunate this holiday season.”
“These seniors who have given so much of their time and energy to crafting these dolls are a wonderful example of the true spirit of the holiday season,” Young said, adding, “During this economic crisis, we have a beautiful story of a community coming together to help one another right here in Flushing.”