Public Employee Press

EMS Santas deliver holiday joy

When ambulances race down Bushwick’s Throop Ave. with their sirens blaring, it means trouble. But on Dec. 15, members of DC37’s Emergency Medical Service ­locals jumped in their vehicles and headed for P.S. 59 on a volunteer mission to deliver holiday presents to some 560 students.

Children looking out their classroom windows that morning were surprised to see several ambulances pull up in front of the school, where members of Uniformed EMS Officers Local 3621 and Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507 unloaded colorfully wrapped packages. The toys and gifts were contributed by union members and staff from EMS Stations 31 and 57. “We started collecting in November,” said Lt. Ileana Adrat, a 19-year veteran of EMS, which is part of the Fire Dept. “Everyone was more than happy to contribute. We really enjoy doing this for the kids and seeing the reaction on their faces,” said the Local 3621 member.

This is the third consecutive year that the union members have organized a Christmas toy drive for the William Floyd School, where 90 percent of the children are eligible for free lunch in a district where the median household income is $18,661.

Lt. Mary Daindrige also helped coordinate the drive and Lt. Vinny Variale played Santa Claus and handed out the toys.

“Without the generosity of these members, some of these children might not have received a holiday gift at all,” said Local 3621 President Thomas Eppinger.

“Our members have been doing this for several years now. It shows a lot of compassion on their part,” said Local 2507 President Pat Bahnken.