CYO Long Island Delivers an Early Christmas Present

The gymnasium at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Hicksville was dressed for Christmas as colorful blow-up characters lined up next to finely wrapped presents and balloon art figures. A chair at the center was reserved for Santa Claus, who called out “Merry Christmas, everyone” and presented gift boxes to 25 adults with developmental disabilities from four of our Catholic Charities of Long Island group residences. 

The OPWDD clients enjoyed making their own gingerbread houses with assistance from 14 young members of the CYO Long Island Outreach Club, who select from community service opportunities with Catholic Charities of Long Island and local parishes. 

The Nov. 29 outreach activity was the second for Lea Strothers, who also plays CYO volleyball, in the past two weeks. She handed out fliers at a local supermarket to support a food drive CYO was conducting for clients of CCLI’s mental health clinics. 

“I love the activities we do,” noted Lea, who wasn’t expecting the people she met at St. Ignatius to be as friendly and outgoing as she found them. Her only problem was the vanilla flavoring and candies applied to the roofs of the gingerbread houses left her fingers feeling sticky.  

One of the friendliest faces would have to be Danielle, who has many friends at Seton Residence in Amityville. “It’s the best day ever, to meet Santa Claus, and make our wonderful gingerbread houses,” she explained. 

Danielle had an opportunity to be interviewed on News12 Long Island. She was quick to share advice about how she handles such appearances.: Be professional, use proper language and don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself.

Besides Seton, residents were transported from three other CCLI homes: Bustamante Residence in West Babylon, Virdone Residence in Babylon and Neumann Residence in Manhasset.
The two-hour program, featuring a pizza lunch and dancing to Christmas favorites, was one of many initiatives involving Catholic Charities of Long Island that CYO has collaborated on or supported in the past few years.  

Executive director Carol Sciotto and another staff member, Deanna Verdi, spent much of the day before prepping the gym, now called the Fennessy Family CYO Sports Center. They filled dozens of balloons and wrapped many boxes that formed the festive North Pole display at center court. 

Just being present and interacting with residents was a great Christmas gift for CYO staff and volunteers and Outreach Club students, explained Sciotto as she placed pieces of pizza on plates. (Without his beard, Santa Claus bears a keen resemblance to CYO volunteer Richard Berch.) 

 “I love the phrase ‘ministries helping ministries,’” Sciotto said. 

Father Shibi Pappan, O.M.I., the pastor of St. Ignatius, complimented Sciotto for her efforts on behalf of CYO Long Island, headquartered at the parish. The joy on all the faces in the gym and the support given to residents of the Catholic Charities group homes offers “a great lesson,” he said. 

Catholic Charities of Long Island is inspired by the Gospel message that every human life is sacred. We operate 12 group residences throughout Long Island serving a total of more than 100 adults with developmental disabilities. For more information, contact Residential Services at (631) 665-3434.

Please support Catholic Charities of Long Island residences for adults with developmental disabilities.