Gabe DiBono (far right) led the way for his fellow first graders at St. Helen's to board the bus back to school after having what he termed as "one of the best days ever."
The Grinch may have stolen Christmas in the movies, but in Howard Beach, restaurant/catering entrepreneur Frank Russo stepped in to make sure nothing would steal Christmas away from his beloved community. Especially for some favorite members of that community— the ones about three or four feet tall, with a missing tooth here and there.
For the second time within two days this week , the doors of Russo’s on the Bay were opened to the children in Howard Beach and surrounding areas destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
On Sunday afternoon, children flocked to the iconic catering hall to have their picture taken with Santa or Frosty the Snowman. Every child was given a framed photo and was invited to enjoy hot chocolate, biscotti and cookies and then given an individually wrapped Gingerbread man when leaving to go home.
“There’s no better way to see what Christmas is,” said Russo, “then through their eyes.”
And again on Tuesday, those eyes were all upon him and the winter wonderland he created for nearly 1,300 Catholic school students that came to Russo’s for a Christmas party.
The children came from three schools in Rockaway, St. Camillus , St. Francis de Sales, St. Rose of Lima, all in Rockaway and the Ave Maria Catholic Academy and St. Helen’s in Howard Beach.
All five of the schools were impacted by the storm, leaving some without classrooms, books, supplies and most importantly, their daily routine.
Nick the Baloonatic donned one of his Christmas creations atop his head while twisting some holiday shapes for an eager crowd.
Msgr. John Brown, pastor of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor came along as one of the chaperones for his school. “Life is very hard for these kids right now,” he explained, “they are living through stresses that we as adults have never even been through. For Mr. Russo to come along and do this for them—well it’s just incredible. It’s Christmas as it should be.”
St. Francis was especially hard hit by the storm and now all of it’s students are bussed daily to a school in Canarsie. When asked how long Msgr. Brown expects the travelling back and forth to he said that things were going as well as could be expected but given the amount of damage, it would not be overnight.
And as the busses continued to roll in, twenty-five of them in all, donated by Consolidated Bus Transit Inc., the staff scurried about to make sure everything was perfect.
At the top of the stairs, the boss, as the staff calls him, stood quietly and off to the side.
An irrepressible smile came across his face. “What they have been through is too much for them,” he said remembering the storm, “today I want them to forget and just to have a great day.”
And a great day is exactly what they had feasting on chicken fingers, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, french fries, waffle fries, chicken cutlet parmigiana, salad and pasta.
Hey don’t forget about dessert where station after station served up cakes, cookies, popcorn and an ice cream sundae bar to create the frozen concoction of their choice.
Mark Sweeney of Russo's (center)surrounded by his beloved students and members of the Marist Club at Archbishop Molloy. The group volunteered their time serve food to a very large, hungry crowd!
Friends lined up outside the photo booth where they had their choice of props and the chance to have some zany photos taken. Then it was off to line up for a hand made latex creation by Nick the Baloonatic.
In every corner of the room, there was a frenzy of activity and every inch of it was filled with the spirit of Christmas. And thanks to the Queens Chamber of Commerce, every child left the building with a gift .
Mark Sweeney, Banquet Sales manager at Russo’s says that the company prides itself on serving others. Sweeney teaches English at Archbishop Molloy by day but had a special connection with the event — a group of his students, belonging to the Marist Club, volunteered to spend the day and serve the food.
“I truly feel blessed for the opportunity to give back to the children who were affected by hurricane Sandy, ” explained Sweeney. “I am so proud of my students and to be a part of the Russo Group family.”
And the praise for the event continued on with both Howard Beach principals weighing in. “Because of Mr. Russo’s generosity, the students had a wonderful time,” said Dr. Christine Zerillo, of St. Helen’s School, “they enjoyed every moment and now have memories of a Christmas celebration that will last forever.”
And Mr. Anthony Russo, from the Ave Maria Catholic Academy was also quick to offer words of thanks, “It’s a wonderful thing to see someone pay it forward to kids like this. Frank Russo is a model of what it means to give back.”
And so at the end of the day, an exhausted yet exhilarated crew of volunteers watched as the last of the busses pulled away.
“Do you think they had a good time?” Frank Russo wondered aloud.
There’s a one word answer for that question Mr. Russo— absolutely.
By Patricia Adams
