A group of Mineola residents kicked off the second annual #friendswhogive fundraising event on Saturday, Dec. 2. The annual event was started last year by Denise Heckelman, a Mineola mom and teacher. Heckelman started this fundraiser because she wanted to show her children and their friends the happiness one can gain when they choose to give back to their community. Also, Heckelman really wanted to teach her children and friends that giving can bring just as much joy as receiving.
“I wanted to instill in my own children that Christmas is about giving,” said Heckelman. “We are fortunate enough to have everything we need, but many families in our community do not. Let’s use some of our chore money, birthday money and babysitting money to make other children smile around Christmas time.”
Heckelman threw the idea out on Facebook and was greeted with affirming support. Families in both the Mineola and Williston Park community jumped on board and spoke to their children about the importance of giving during this holiday season.
“Everyone wants to see their children be good people,” said Heckelman. “This was just a venue to make it happen.”
The community’s generosity was overwhelming. Parents, children and even cars passed by and stopped at the Heckelman’s with their dollar bills, piggy banks, new toys and gift cards to donate. Former students of Heckelman’s even came by to help with this great cause.
“It brings me great personal joy to have my former students and their families drop by and send gifts to my house in support of this wonderful event,” explained Heckelman. “They are bringing their children here to teach them that giving is good. It is going full circle. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Anyone who donated received a free #friendswhogive T-shirt, which were generously donated by Jeff Weissenberg and St. Francis Prep. Donators also got a cup of hot cocoa. A total of $1,500 in cash and gift cards were collected along with an abundance of toys, all of which will be donated to local outreach programs at neighborhood schools to help children and their families.
