HFH family residences are connecting with their community through their local public libraries.

At Allie’s Place, the Soundview branch of The New York Public Library set up a table for families to learn about free services, pick up flyers for upcoming programs, and sign up for library cards.

“The Soundview Library has been a great partner and a vital resource for Allie’s Place and the families at our site,” said Derrick Holman, Program Specialist at Allie’s Place. “In addition to providing books and educational materials, they have supported our efforts to engage the community and build strong neighborhood networks. The children especially love getting their library cards and discovering all the resources beyond books—from anime and art clubs to the Teen Center. We are very grateful for the library staff and their support.”

Meanwhile, at Prospect, the Afterschool & Recreation program took a field trip to the Hunts Point branch of The New York Public Library. Librarian Julia gave the group a tour, showing them how books are organized by genre and how to find specific titles. They also visited the Teen Center, where kids can do homework, attend free programs, and use computers and creative equipment, including video and photography equipment.

After the tour, they participated in a Chinese New Year–themed craft and learned about traditional paper lanterns and used art supplies to create their own.

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring; some kids stayed in the Teen Center, while others browsed the shelves and read quietly. Afterschool & Recreation staff spent time with the youngest kids before they happily transitioned to playing with the toys the library also had available.

The wide selection of books made a big impression. One student who is just beginning to read on her own found a full section of read-along books to choose from.

“We have one little girl who doesn’t speak English—she was so excited to see a whole Spanish section,” said Sofia Gaston, Education Program Coordinator at Prospect. “She was reading them to me!”

On the walk back to Prospect, the group was already asking when they could return.

“The librarians made them feel like, ‘You can come here. This is your library,’” Sofia said. “They definitely want to go back. It’s important that they have that. That they know that this is their community and their community library—that they can come anytime. There was something for everyone.”

One student was especially eager to share the experience with her mom.

“The first thing she told her was, ‘Mom, will you take me to the library?’” Sofia said. “They definitely made a connection.”

Sofia is now helping the older kids complete applications for library cards so they can continue visiting on their own.

This holiday season, HFH Family Residences marked the holidays with gatherings that brought families together across our programs. From festive parties to cozy traditions, these celebrations would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our donors and partners.  

Thanks to our amazing partners, every child in our shelters received a holiday gift this season—from toys and board games to coats, baby essentials, hygiene kits, spa bags, hot cocoa kits, gift cards, and more. We are very grateful to ADP NYC, Alston & Bird, Area 53, Citibank, Community District 8, Ferox Ninja Park, Girl Scouts Staten Island, Good+ Foundation, Grace Church School, Hollis Lions Club, JFK Terminal 7, Knock Knock Give A Sock, K&L Gates, Lufthansa's help alliance Americas, Merl Grove High School Past Students' Association, MLB Store NYC, Nasya Batian/Cambria School of Excellence, New York Cares, Off Broadway Theater, Old Navy, Projects with Care, Rap4Bronx, Rockaplay Social Club, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Stifel Financial, Stogie on the Rocks, The New York Times, Trade Coffee Co., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Phi Zeta Zeta Chapter for helping ensure families had what they needed while kids experienced the joy of opening a gift. 

Allie's Place was filled with holiday cheer thanks to a toy drive and festive celebration hosted by Community District 8, complete with sweet treats and family photos by the tree. Rap4Bronx returned with their annual holiday party—featuring snowman figurine decorating, a catered lunch, Polaroid keepsakes, and surprise gifts—while Chef Jayda and the Culinary Team rounded out the celebrations with a hands-on holiday cookie decorating event and Afterschool hosted a festive dinner and New Year photoshoot for the kids. 

The MLB NYC Flagship Store's holiday squad—reindeer, elves, and Santa included—stopped by Clinton to deliver gifts, take family photos, and spread cheer, knocking the holidays out of the park. 

Prospect welcomed a mischievous Grinch for a holiday photo celebration with Santa and his elf, complete with cocoa, cookies, and printed keepsakes for families. Afterschool programming carried the fun through the season with Grinch bingo, ornament decorating, and a cozy movie night. 

Saratoga Afterschool transformed into a charming German Christmas Market thanks to Lufthansa's Help Alliance Americas, where kids enjoyed fresh waffles, cookie decorating, games, and Polaroid photos before Santa closed out the celebration with gifts. 

Saratoga Early Ed became a winter wonderland as families gathered for an afternoon of holiday art-making, hot cocoa, and gooey s'mores alongside their little ones. 

Williamsbridge families kicked off Christmas Eve with a cozy PJs & Pancakes celebration, followed by photos with Santa, December birthday recognition, and a holiday movie marathon hosted by the Rec Team. 

Across our early education programs, students, families, and teachers gathered to mark a year of growth, learning, and exciting milestones. From superhero-themed ceremonies to awards and performances, each celebration honored the achievements of the kids and the community that supports them.

At Prospect, families filled the room to cheer on their 3K and PreK students—those moving up to PreK and those heading off to kindergarten. Dressed as superheroes, the children danced, sang, and enjoyed an acai bowl buffet, all while being celebrated for their hard work.

“The children have worked very hard this year—they have learned many new things such as ABC’s and their numbers,” said Rafaela Bruno, Director of Early Childhood Education. “They have made new friends, and they have learned to share and be kind to each other… Graduates—this is the beginning of your learning adventure. Continue to be the amazing, kind, hard-working children that you are.”

Saratoga’s superhero-themed celebration also brought together students and their families for a lively send-off. Each kid received a personalized certificate recognizing their unique strengths—like “Biggest Heart,” “Certificate of Kindness,” “Sports Award,” and “Classroom Leadership.” It was a joyful celebration of both academic and personal growth.

Allie’s Place turned up the music for a High School Musical-themed celebration, complete with performances, family photo ops, and a nutritious lunch. One student graduated to kindergarten, while the others proudly moved up to PreK. Families were also recognized with awards to honor their unwavering support throughout the school year. The day concluded with a slideshow of highlights from the year of learning and memories.

HFH Family Residences have been staying busy over the past few months—learning, engaging with community partners, and celebrating the season. From hands-on lessons in our Early Education programs to exciting Afterschool activities and festive holiday events, families and staff have made the most of winter.

In our Early Education programs, the young learners explored the Clothing and Tree units through interactive lessons. In Saratoga Early Ed, the kids created self-portraits using textures and patterns to express their unique styles. Their alphabet exploration led them to focus on the letter P for Pajamas, designing their own paper pajamas while connecting letters to real-world concepts. Prospect Early Ed took a hands-on approach by washing classroom smocks and doll clothes—building life-skills while fostering teamwork and responsibility. They even built a classroom washing machine for their dramatic play area. Meanwhile, Saratoga Early Ed’s Tree Unit encouraged students to learn about how trees grow and what they provide. After exploring different fruits that grow on trees, they blended their discoveries into smoothies—a fun and nutritional snack.

The Afterschool programs kept kids engaged through exciting partnerships and skill-building activities. Young photographers at Williamsbridge sharpened their skills with Kids With Cameras, learning the basics of DSLR photography while experimenting with focus, exposure, and composition. In Allie’s Place Afterschool, kids stayed active through the cold months with hip-hop classes led by National Enrichment Group, building confidence and rhythm. Cooking has been a key focus at both Saratoga Afterschool and Williamsbridge—also with National Enrichment Group. At Saratoga, the kids have been learning essential kitchen skills and nutrition basics, while at Williamsbridge, parents and kids cooked side by side, making dishes like Caesar salad and chicken fettuccini Alfredo.

Families across our residences have embraced the spirit of celebration, marking Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Black History Month with engaging activities. Allie’s Place Early Ed honored Black History Month by learning about artists like Alma Thomas and Jean-Michel Basquiat, inspiring children to create their own vibrant masterpieces, while Prospect Afterschool discussed influential Black leaders and crafted collages filled with empowering quotes and images that celebrate Black history. Saratoga Afterschool is also preparing for their annual Black History Month Showcase—stay tuned! In Allie’s Place Afterschool, kids explored Lunar New Year traditions, discovering their Chinese Zodiac signs and playing New Year Bingo. Valentine’s Day was also a highlight—Saratoga Early Ed hosted a gathering where families decorated picture frames and created sensory water bottles, while Allie’s Place held a Valentine’s Day Jam featuring outreach tables, a makeup giveaway, and a spread of sweet treats prepared by Allie’s Place Center for Culinary Education & Employment.

With spring around the corner, we look forward to even more opportunities for creativity and connection across our programs.

The holiday season at HFH Family Residences was a time for connection and celebration, as families and staff came together for festive gatherings. From crafts and tasty treats to shared meals and visits from Santa, here’s how the HFH community marked the season.

Families at Allie’s Place warmed up with cocoa and crafts at a holiday gathering hosted by RAP4Bronx. They personalized mugs and decorated frames for holiday Polaroids while sipping hot cocoa—a joyful way to come together and spread holiday cheer.

Allie’s Place Early Ed brought the holiday spirit to life with a Christmas lunch for families. They enjoyed a delicious meal, took family photos, and the kids surprised their parents with framed holiday portraits that made the day even more special.

Santa made special stops at Prospect and Allie’s Place with the HFH Summer Camps team. They snapped festive photos with the kids and their families, spreading holiday cheer while building excitement for HFH Summer Camps 2025.

Lufthansa’s help alliance Americas brought the holiday magic to Saratoga Afterschool. The kids explored holiday traditions from around the world—including topping fresh Belgian waffles, decorating gingerbread cookies, and learning about German Christmas markets. They also played musical chairs, snapped Polaroid photos, and created holiday-inspired art.

Saratoga Early Ed turned into a holiday candyland for a special gathering with families. Everyone joined in on the fun, diving into sensory play with fluffy fake snow, warming up with hot cocoa, posing for festive family photos, and creating colorful beaded “candy” jewelry and holiday-themed art.