On Sunday, the families of New York City firefighters who had passed away gathered at FAO Schwarz for the FDNY’s annual “Shopping Spree.” The toy store was closed off to the public, letting the kids roam free with $200 gift cards and take home everything that caught their eye.
A six‑year‑old named Charlotte beamed when she told her parents, “I saw Santa and I got a purse. It’s good.” She wasn’t alone; dozens of children who had lost their FDNY parents were handed gifts, wrapped with care and a lot of holiday cheer.
An eight‑year‑old, Joseph, proudly explained to his sister that the fireman’s hat he’d seen in a display case was part of his dad’s engine: “There was a case upstairs with a fireman’s hat in it and the fireman’s hat had 325 on it. That’s my dad’s engine,” he said, referring to Joseph Mulvey.
On top of the gift‑giving, Santa made a special appearance. He offered a ride around Rockefeller Center on an unmarked FDNY fire engine. The kids were even lifted into a bucket on the engine’s side, giving them a bird‑sight seat above the iconic Christmas tree. A photo captioned, “Kids were given a ride around Rockefeller Center onboard Santa’s very own fire engine,” might as well be the highlight of the day.
The event is hosted by the FDNY‑Uniformed Firefighters Association Widows & Children’s Fund. For decades, this organization has provided holiday presents to the children of fallen firefighters. For many families, the “Shopping Spree” has become the centerpiece of their seasonal celebrations, and some of the children who grew up there later volunteer their time, wrap gifts, and help other kids feel the same sense of community.
Eileen Bellew, whose husband John died at 37 in the infamous 2005 Bronx tenement fire known as “Black Sunday,” shares that her four children haven’t missed a single “Shopping Spree” in the past twenty years. “My kids started giving back as they grew up, wrapping gifts, volunteering,” Bell was quoted saying, adding, “As we received we moved into giving. We like to give back because we received so much from this event.”
For many of the youngsters, though, the day is about more than just toys. Fifteen‑year‑old Juliette, who lost her father Tony Oelkers to a 9‑11‑related cancer in 2021, said, “All the kids here are pretty much going through the same thing.” She continued, “It’s nice to be with other kids who understand. Understand what this is like.”
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
