News

Supporters Bring Holiday Cheer

The Cross Island Crew will again donate toys for a charity for Christmas
Published Dec 13, 2019

In the spirit of the holiday season, New York Cosmos fans are doing their share for the children of the metropolitan area.

At its holiday party, the Cross Island Crew is asking all attendees to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event, which will be held at Prost Grill & Garten, in Garden City, N.Y. on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 3-5 p.m.

All toys will be donated to Toys of Hope, an organization that helps the needy.

The Cross Island Crew is part of the 5 Points network of Cosmos supporters clubs from the area.

"All of our groups that are in the 5 Points have always done a lot of different charity events," event organizer Janine Odell said. "In years past for the Cross Island Crew holiday party we tried to collect toys for different organizations. This year what I was really looking for was more of a local organization that served the local communities that we the 5 Points where actually living in."

After doing some research, Odell found Toys of Hope, a Huntington, N.Y. group that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. She got in contact with director of operations Brian Hanson and they went over the different projects.

"We just knew this was the right organization for this year to collect for," she said.

Toys of Hope serves the New York community from Manhattan to Montauk on Long Island.

"They really believe in helping all children regardless of race, religion, nationality or financial status," Odell said. “They are a 100 percent volunteer organization and every donation they get goes back to the community.”

The organization has various projects, including donations for hygiene products, clothing and coats.

"They not only serve the children but the families as whole," Odell said. "They have a program where you can adopt a family for the holidays and donate for their food and [Christmas] trees and what any family would hope to have for the holidays."

From 25 to 50 supporters are expected to attend, although the party is open to non-supporter club members and Cosmos fans.

"Everyone is welcome," Odell said.

"We'd love to have all our numbers grow from any of our events to be a fun environment."

The Cross Island Crew has used Prost as a preseason meeting place. “The owners love the whole atmosphere of being a soccer bar,” Odell said.

Prost Grill and Garden is located at 652 Franklin Ave., Garden City, N.Y. (516 427-5215).