FreeMAT Presents Donations from Community Toy Drive to U.S. Army & Troops Families

Friday, December 05, 2008

Flushing, New York - New York Hospital Queens’ FreeMAT (the Freedom Medical Aid Team) presented a mountain of gifts collected from this year’s community toy drive to the U.S. Army yesterday at New York Hospital Queens.

The FreeMAT volunteer group was conceived post-911 after EMT-Paramedics from New York Hospital Queens served in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Strongly compelled to help U.S. troops as they fight terrorism abroad, FreeMAT developed the idea to collect supplies and gifts for the troops and families of the Army’s 77th Regional Readiness Command based out of Fort Totten, Queens.

The toys will be distributed to the children of those soldiers who are fighting overseas and will miss the holiday season with their loved ones. A dozen Army personnel based at Fort Totten were on hand to accept the gifts on behalf of the troops overseas.

“We have been collecting donations, gifts and supplies for United States Armed Forces personnel and their families since April 2003,” said Peter Kwiath, NYHQ EMT-P, and co-founder of FreeMAT. “We are very grateful for the support of our local elected officials, community organizations, schools and churches that actively support FreeMAT efforts for this holiday toy drive and beyond.”

Council Member John C. Liu also donated gifts and helped spread the news about the toy drive to their constituents. Also in attendance were community supporters such as the a representative from the Mayor Bloomberg’s Office of Veteran Affairs, and the Flushing Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club of Flushing presented a donation for $500 for gift purchases.

Unwrapped toys of any kind (new only) for children of any age will continue to be collected up through Christmas. Donations are also welcome. There are two drop off locations: New York Hospital Queens at 56-45 Main Street at Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing; and the hospital’s Ambulance Division at 163-15 46th Avenue in Flushing. To schedule a pickup of toys (in larger quantities), call (718) 670-2091.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.