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Thanksgiving Luncheon and Winter Coat Drive 2025

About 150 students living in temporary housing enjoyed a day of crafts, games, face-painting and fun at UFT headquarters on Nov. 22 to celebrate Thanksgiving and receive new winter gear courtesy of UFT members’ generosity. Headed by the UFT’s Middle Schools Division, the event provided each student with a new winter coat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a scarf and a hat to keep them warm in the coming winter months.

A student shows off a coat he received at the annual UFT Middle Schools Thanksgiving Luncheon

A 7-year-old student proudly wears the coat he got to choose for himself.

Jonathan Fickies
Michael Martin, a 3-K teacher at PS 157 in the Bronx, volunteers to lead a model-airplane-painting activity.

Michael Martin, a technology teacher at PS 157 in the Bronx, volunteers to lead a model-airplane-painting activity.

Jonathan Fickies
Megan Pomara, a cosmetology teacher at Queens Technical HS, styles a 6-year-old student’s hair.

Megan Pomara, a cosmetology teacher at Queens Technical HS, styles a 6-year-old's hair.

Jonathan Fickies
UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell, the architect of the coat drive and luncheon, hands out coats to students.

UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell, the architect of the coat drive and luncheon, hands out coats to students.

Jonathan Fickies
Volunteers dressed up as turkeys for the occasion, both man and pup, greet Crystal Johnson, a special education teacher in District 29 in Queens, who chaperoned a group of students to the luncheon.

Volunteers dressed up as turkeys for the occasion, both man and pup, greet Crystal Johnson, a special education teacher in District 29 in Queens, who chaperoned a group of students to the luncheon.

Jonathan Fickies
UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets students at a craft table before helping to hand out coats.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets students at a craft table before helping to hand out coats.

Jonathan Fickies
A 12-year-old student is all smiles as she tries on a coat.

A 12-year-old student is all smiles as she tries on a coat.

Jonathan Fickies
An 11-year-old student has her face painted by a Queens Technical HS student volunteer.

An 11-year-old student has her face painted by a Queens Technical HS student volunteer.

Jonathan Fickies
A pair of siblings, ages 8 and 5, show off their face paint and shirts before having lunch.

A pair of siblings, ages 8 and 5, show off their face paint and shirts before having lunch.

Jonathan Fickies
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A student shows off a coat he received at the annual UFT Middle Schools Thanksgiving Luncheon

A 7-year-old student proudly wears the coat he got to choose for himself.

Jonathan Fickies
Michael Martin, a 3-K teacher at PS 157 in the Bronx, volunteers to lead a model-airplane-painting activity.

Michael Martin, a technology teacher at PS 157 in the Bronx, volunteers to lead a model-airplane-painting activity.

Jonathan Fickies
Megan Pomara, a cosmetology teacher at Queens Technical HS, styles a 6-year-old student’s hair.

Megan Pomara, a cosmetology teacher at Queens Technical HS, styles a 6-year-old's hair.

Jonathan Fickies
UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell, the architect of the coat drive and luncheon, hands out coats to students.

UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell, the architect of the coat drive and luncheon, hands out coats to students.

Jonathan Fickies
Volunteers dressed up as turkeys for the occasion, both man and pup, greet Crystal Johnson, a special education teacher in District 29 in Queens, who chaperoned a group of students to the luncheon.

Volunteers dressed up as turkeys for the occasion, both man and pup, greet Crystal Johnson, a special education teacher in District 29 in Queens, who chaperoned a group of students to the luncheon.

Jonathan Fickies
UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets students at a craft table before helping to hand out coats.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets students at a craft table before helping to hand out coats.

Jonathan Fickies
A 12-year-old student is all smiles as she tries on a coat.

A 12-year-old student is all smiles as she tries on a coat.

Jonathan Fickies
An 11-year-old student has her face painted by a Queens Technical HS student volunteer.

An 11-year-old student has her face painted by a Queens Technical HS student volunteer.

Jonathan Fickies
A pair of siblings, ages 8 and 5, show off their face paint and shirts before having lunch.

A pair of siblings, ages 8 and 5, show off their face paint and shirts before having lunch.

Jonathan Fickies