Christmas came early in Bensonhurst this year as Reaching Out Community Services, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit, brought holiday joy to low-income families during its 18th annual Operation Christmas Smiles toy giveaway on Dec. 16.
Hundreds of families — all of whom are part of the organization’s food program — stopped by the New Utrecht Avenue community center to pose for pictures with Santa, meet some holiday characters and pick up their free Christmas gifts.
“We’re excited to see how the children are going to react to the toys they’re going to get,” Reaching Out Community Services founder Thomas Neve said in a video posted to the org’s YouTube channel. “That’s what it’s all about, just to bring a smile to a kid’s face.”
Neve started serving the southern Brooklyn community in 1989, when he launched a mobile outreach program providing hot meals, clothes and other necessities to unhoused community members. He launched Reaching Out in 1992 — and now, more than 20 years later, the nonprofit offers a food pantry, various food assistance programs, housing assistance and other social services, and more.
Each year, the organization hosts a massive free Thanksgiving giveaway for families in need — and Neve’s humanitarian acts continue every holiday season as the org doles out free gifts to families at Operation Christmas Smiles, lighting up the holidays for kids and parents alike.
All of the gifts — from board games to stuffed toys to race cars — were donated by neighbors, local organizations, and companies. Parents, teachers and students from Bay Ridge Prep and P.S. 164 collected and dropped off bags of toys ahead of the event, while the Dyker Heights Civic Association dropped off a check to help keep the annual operation running.
