A Season of Care, Connection, and Community Across NYCHA

As 2025 came to a close, NYCHA developments across New York City came together to mark the holiday season with generosity, celebration, and moments of shared joy. From toy distributions and community tree lightings to cultural outings and thousands of meals delivered to seniors, Holiday 2025 reflected the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting residents not just in times of need but also in moments of joy that were all about nourishing connection, community, and belonging.

At Morissania Air Rights (MAR), the “Secret Snowflake” gift distribution, supported by the
Public Housing Community Fund, featured Santa himself – on a double-wide throne!

One of the season’s highlights was NYCHA’s first-ever participation in the “Secret Snowflake” winter giving initiative, which was led by the Office of the Mayor’s NYC Service. Through this collaboration, approximately 930 toys and gifts — including remote-control cars, board games, LEGO sets, soccer balls, Play-Doh, and bracelet-making kits — were distributed to NYCHA families. The effort also included book donations from Greenlight Bookstore, ensuring children received gifts that will inspire creativity and learning along with pure holiday fun. At Morissania Air Rights (MAR), the Secret Snowflake distribution was part of a larger holiday party supported by the Public Housing Community Fund, complete with Santa – on a double-wide throne! – and a range of festive programming that brought MAR residents and the whole neighborhood together to celebrate.

Across developments, residents also created their own moments of holiday magic. At Nostrand Houses, community members gathered for the development’s first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, transforming the center of the block between 3019 and 3045 Avenue W into a shared space of friends enjoying holiday cheer. Participants were invited to bring homemade or store-bought ornaments to decorate the tree.

At Nostrand Houses, community members gathered for
the development’s first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting celebration

The season also brought care to where it was most needed. In the Bronx, NYCHA coordinated large-scale holiday meal distributions at Mitchel Houses and McKinley Houses, with a focus on seniors and residents with disabilities. On December 23, volunteers went door-to-door to deliver a total of 2,000 meals — 1,000 at each development — making sure that all residents would be able to enjoy a nourishing holiday meal without having to leave home. The meals were prepared by graduates of NYCHA REES’s Food Business Pathways Program, spotlighting local entrepreneurs while reinforcing NYCHA’s commitment to economic opportunity alongside community care.

As part of the McKinley Houses holiday celebrations, volunteers also delivered 1,000 free meals
to seniors and residents with disabilities.

Holiday joy extended beyond development grounds as well, through cultural partnerships that opened doors to some of the city’s most beloved seasonal experiences. In Brooklyn, 300 NYCHA residents received tickets to a special preview of Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, while 140 Bronx residents enjoyed an evening at the Bronx Zoo, where animals and pathways were transformed by dazzling holiday lights. Coordinated through NYCHA’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships, these outings offered families the chance to experience some of New York’s most famous cultural institutions together — but completely cost-free and wonder-full.

Celebrations took place across the city, including at Forest Houses,
on Clay Avenue, and many other venues.

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