Dyker Beach Golf Course hosts Gift of Giving once again

Giving a gift can be just as exciting as receiving one.

For the fourth year in a row, Dyker Beach Golf Course really got into the giving spirit with its annual Gift of Giving event—the goal of which is to brighten the holidays for children of all ages in need of holiday cheer.

The afternoon event provided lunch as well as the distribution of toys to dozens of children from various sponsors throughout the borough.

“These children are unserved,” explained Cynthia Felix, co-organizer of the event alongside Carlo Lenzi, about providing the gifts to children that come from domestic violence situations at home, live in temporary housing, or shelters. “For many of the children, this was their Christmas.”

In attendance at the event were students from the High School of Telecommunications Arts and Technology and P.S. 9-Teunis G. Bergen School. Each school collected and wrapped over 500 toys donated by local businesses, neighbors, friends, family and students, Felix added.

The students used their community service hours to help this Gift of Giving event run smoothly. Serving as the “elves of the event,” the students were in charge of wrapping all the gifts, mingling with the children and making sure they all ate and later were in charge of clean up.

With this event “we were happy to show the students the importance of the act of giving back,” Felix said, as well as “bringing those in need, the spirit of Christmas.

“The gift of giving was alive and well,” she went on. “The children were thrilled and grateful.”

The event’s sponsors included: Casper’s Cuts, The Clarimar Group, The Booth NYC, Sunset Park Lions Club, Alma Bank Sunset Park Branch, UnitedHealth and Attanasio & Associates. In addition, Dyker Golf Club donated the space, Sunset Bagels donated the food and Mr. C’s Cycles donated two brand new bicycles for the raffle portion of the event.