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Around the UFT

Thanksgiving Luncheon and Winter Coat Drive

‘It makes your heart melt’
New York Teacher
Thanksgiving Luncheon and Winter Coat Drive
Erica Berger

A Queens Technical HS cosmetology student paints a young student’s face.

Thanksgiving Luncheon and Winter Coat Drive
Erica Berger

Brooklyn teacher Jonathan Lustberg of PS 259 and Jennifer Rogers, the chapter leader at PS 289 in Manhattan, prepare hacky sacks and slap bracelets for students to decorate.

Thanksgiving Luncheon and Winter Coat Drive
Erica Berger

A student picks out a brand-new hat.

“I got a scarf!” 6-year-old Daisy exclaimed to her friends as she excitedly pulled a pink knitted scarf out of her bag. The scarf matched her new winter coat and the pink heart painted on her face by a Queens Technical HS cosmetology student.

Daisy was one of 160 students living in temporary housing who attended the UFT Middle Schools Division’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on Nov. 18 at UFT headquarters. At the end of the event, the children — who ranged in age from 5 to 17 — left with brand-new winter coats and accessories donated by UFT members or staff.

The union received over 700 coats and more than $9,000 in donations this year. “All this comes from them,” said UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell, who organizes the event every year.

Mantell said his favorite part is seeing the excitement of kids like Daisy. “It’s priceless. It makes your heart melt,” he said.

Carmen Romero Lee, a 6th- and 7th-grade social studies teacher and chapter leader at PS 177 in Manhattan, said the event was especially important this year, since many of the students were from asylum-seeking families.

“It’s getting colder, and we know that there’s a lot of housing instability with the right-to-shelter mandate in New York City being suspended soon,” she said. “Winter is coming, and our kids need coats.”

Romero Lee helped students make beaded bracelets at one of many craft tables scattered around the room. The kids had the opportunity to decorate tote bags, masks, magnets, suncatchers, pinwheels and more. Cosmetology students from Queens Technical HS painted nails, styled hair and painted faces.

Students with painted Spider-Man and butterfly faces gathered to receive an early holiday dinner of chicken and potato puffs with ice cream for dessert.

Jennifer Rogers, a 6th-grade special education teacher and the chapter leader at PS 289 in Manhattan, brought back some old fads at a craft table with hacky sacks and slap bracelets for students to draw on with colored markers.

For Rogers, the work of an educator — and the work of the union — doesn’t end in the classroom.

“We’re a union that is here to protect our profession and our members, but also to protect our kids and our community,” she said. “Events like these bring to light what we do for kids.”

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Three students waiting in line smile for then camera

A few of the students who attended the UFT Middle Schools Division’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon wait in line to receive new coats.

Erica Berger
Image
A high school student face paints a younger student's face

A Queens Technical HS cosmetology student paints a young student’s face.

Erica Berger
Image
Two adults pose with their custom hacky sacks

Jonathan Lustberg, a 7th-grade science teacher at PS 259 in Brooklyn, and Jennifer Rogers, a 6th-grade special education teacher and chapter leader at PS 289 in Manhattan, prepare hacky sacks and slap bracelets for students to decorate.

Erica Berger
Image
A young student smiles while getting to pick out winter attire

A student picks out a brand-new hat.

Erica Berger
Image
A student with a temporary tattoo on her forehead smiles while being fitted for a coat
Flavia Puello-Perdomo, the DOE Chief of Schools for Community Supports and Wellness, helps a student try on a new winter coat.
Erica Berger
Image
A teacher gets her nails painted by a student

Andrea Lingstuyl, a teacher at Queens Technical HS, gets her nails painted by one of her cosmetology students.

Erica Berger
Image
A woman helps a student with a new hat

Tania Tavares, a District 29 family assistant, helps a student with her new hat.

Erica Berger
Image
Coat drive volunteers pose for a photo

UFT staff who volunteered at the event — including UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantel (bottom row, middle) — get together for a group shot.

Erica Berger
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Image
Three students waiting in line smile for then camera

A few of the students who attended the UFT Middle Schools Division’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon wait in line to receive new coats.

Erica Berger
Image
A high school student face paints a younger student's face

A Queens Technical HS cosmetology student paints a young student’s face.

Erica Berger
Image
Two adults pose with their custom hacky sacks

Jonathan Lustberg, a 7th-grade science teacher at PS 259 in Brooklyn, and Jennifer Rogers, a 6th-grade special education teacher and chapter leader at PS 289 in Manhattan, prepare hacky sacks and slap bracelets for students to decorate.

Erica Berger
Image
A young student smiles while getting to pick out winter attire

A student picks out a brand-new hat.

Erica Berger
Image
A student with a temporary tattoo on her forehead smiles while being fitted for a coat
Flavia Puello-Perdomo, the DOE Chief of Schools for Community Supports and Wellness, helps a student try on a new winter coat.
Erica Berger
Image
A teacher gets her nails painted by a student

Andrea Lingstuyl, a teacher at Queens Technical HS, gets her nails painted by one of her cosmetology students.

Erica Berger
Image
A woman helps a student with a new hat

Tania Tavares, a District 29 family assistant, helps a student with her new hat.

Erica Berger
Image
Coat drive volunteers pose for a photo

UFT staff who volunteered at the event — including UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantel (bottom row, middle) — get together for a group shot.

Erica Berger