This Holiday Season, a Very Special Episode of Your Favorite TV Shows

Around this time each year, our favorite shows often take a quick break from the major season storylines to cook up a special holiday-themed episode. Let's take a look back at some of our favorites over the years, from comedies, dramas, and everything in between.

On Christmas Eve in 1956, "I Love Lucy" aired one of TV's earliest holiday specials, which also happened to be one of the earliest clip shows. As Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel trim the Christmas tree, they reminisce about moments from the past few years, including the night Little Ricky was born.

"The Twilight Zone" aired several Christmas-themed episodes during its five-season run. The first, "The Night of the Meek," aired on December 23, 1960. Art Carney plays a down-on-his-luck department store Santa who drinks to try to forget about the poverty-stricken children outside seeking toys, food, and even jobs for their parents. But everyone's luck is about to turn around after a visit to the Twilight Zone. Season two's "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" is another classic Christmas-themed episode; a lesser known gem is season three's "The Changing of the Guard."

In December 1969, TV viewers spent their first Christmas with "The Brady Bunch." In the episode "The Voice of Christmas," Carol comes down with laryngitis, which means she will not be able to sing at church on Christmas Day. Cindy is devastated and asks a department store Santa for a very special gift – for her mom to get her voice back in time for the holiday.

Shortly before Christmas in 1974, the immensely popular "Happy Days" aired its classic episode "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas." The Cunninghams are all set to celebrate the holiday, but when Richie finds out that Fonzie plans to spend the holiday all alone, he invites him to join the family festivities.

If you would like to spend the holidays with "The Golden Girls," you have several options, the first one being season two's "Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas," which aired in December of 1986. In this episode, the ladies plan to spend Christmas with their respective families, but they instead find themselves being held hostage by a man dressed as Santa at the grief counseling center. Three years later, in "Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas," the girls volunteered at a homeless shelter on Christmas day where they learned that Dorothy's ex-husband Stan is living on the streets.

In 1989, TV viewers spent their first holiday season with "The Simpsons." In the very first episode of the long-running series, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," Homer and Bart go to the dog track on Christmas Eve to try to earn cash to save the family's Christmas. They put the little money they have on Santa's Little Helper, who loses the race but wins a spot on the couch with the dysfunctional yet loving family.

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" aired several Christmas specials during its six-season run, the first being the 1990 season one episode "Deck the Halls." When Will learns that Ashley has never experienced a traditional family Christmas, he goes all out to get everyone in the holiday spirit. However, not everyone in the neighborhood appreciates the bright lights and decorations outside the mansion. The Banks family celebrated the holiday again in special episodes airing in 1991, 1993, and 1995.

In the 1990s, holiday specials began to branch out and reflect a more diverse world. The animated children's show "Rugrats" was one of the first television programs to include a Hanukkah special. In "A Rugrats Chanukah," which aired in December of 1996, the babies learn the story of Hanukkah while grandpa feuds with his co-star in the local synagogue's play.

Five years later, the show aired the special "A Rugrats Kwanzaa," in which the babies learn about the celebration of African-American culture when their friend's great-aunt comes to visit.

Speaking of Christmas alternatives, in December of 1997 "Seinfeld" introduced the world to a new holiday called Festivus. In the episode called "The Strike," Frank Costanza explains the symbolism of the traditional aluminum pole, the airing of grievances, and the feats of strength.

In December of 2000, "Friends" celebrated several holidays with the introduction of a unique mascot of sorts. In the episode "The One With the Holiday Armadillo," Ross, unable to obtain a holiday-themed suit so late in December, surprises his son Ben by dressing up as a giant armadillo to explain the story of Hanukkah. Things go off the rails when Chandler shows up dressed as Santa.

No holiday season is complete without attending the annual office holiday party. And no one throws a party like everyone's favorite boss Michael Scott of "The Office." The team at Dunder Mifflin threw seven holiday parties from 2005 to 2012. Whether partying at Benihana or the office itself, the Scranton natives shared many sacred holiday traditions with TV viewers.

While Kwanzaa is not as well represented in mainstream television specials as other holidays, in 2007 Chris Rock taught TV viewers about the spirit of the holiday in the "Everybody Hates Chris" episode "Everybody Hates Kwanzaa." In this holiday special, Julius talks the family into celebrating Kwanzaa instead of Christmas for a change, in the hopes of saving money.

In 2010, "Mad Men" applied a dramatic spin to company Christmas parties, as Don Draper and his colleagues celebrated the season while facing tough decisions in their personal and work lives. In the season-four episode "Christmas Comes But Once a Year," Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce intends to throw a scaled-down office party to save money, but that changes when a major client invites himself to the celebration.

"The Goldbergs" have celebrated the holiday season with TV viewers many times over the last decade, most memorably in 2015 with the third-season episode "A Christmas Story." Frustrated by her family's disinterest in the holiday season, Beverly creates "Super Hanukkah" to get them into the holiday spirit.

Over the last few years as streaming services have grown in popularity, holiday specials have begun airing all year long. In August 2021, "Ted Lasso" surprised viewers with a Christmas special titled "Carol of the Bells." In this episode, Ted plans to celebrate the holiday alone for the first time since his divorce and move to London, but Rebecca has other plans.

In June of this year, "The Bear" aired what will surely go down as one of the most devastating Christmas episodes of any series. In the star-studded and anxiety-inducing episode "Fishes," viewers are treated to a flashback of an increasingly chaotic Christmas dinner with the Berzatto family. This episode shines a brutal light on the stresses associated with the holiday season and family get-togethers and is only recommended for those seeking a cathartic crying session this holiday season.

We hope you enjoy these holiday specials, and we look forward to new specials coming soon as productions start up again following the resolution of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Happy Holidays!

Spotlight | Queens Together

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth.

Queens Together began in March 2020 when COVID-19 shut down New York City. They are a network of Queens restaurants and community groups working together in NYC’s largest borough. This nonprofit organization aims to improve the health and vitality of the diverse multicultural restaurants and food businesses unique to Queens, New York.

As a professional organization, they equip food businesses with resources for best business practices and promotional services. Executive Director Jonathan Forgash said Queens Together supports nearly 400 associated restaurants throughout Queens in various business matters. They also advocate with city agencies and officials and partner with community organizations to help businesses and alleviate food insecurity in the borough.

Their main focus areas are as follows:

●        RESOURCES: Education, networking, and the services for success in the food and hospitality industry.

They have translated and dispersed information from the Small Business Association into multiple languages. They’ve also hosted webinars, such as one led by a restaurant owner who is an expert in accounting, or connected businesses with legal services.

●        PROMOTION: Increase sales and exposure via media, events, and community engagement.

“We work with restaurants who don’t have any skills with Instagram or websites,” added Forgash. “We had a digital designer curate and create an Instagram page for a Sri Lankan restaurant in Jamaica so they would have a digital presence because they were getting really good press, but they had nowhere to show it.”

●        COMMUNITY: Businesses, neighbors, and organizations working together to support the community one meal at a time.

Community advocacy and support are also essential to Queens Together. Their program to fight food insecurity is called “Plate It Forward.” It feeds frontline workers and people facing food and economic insecurity. Since 2020, they’ve served meals and groceries to nearly 400,000 people, thanks to local restaurants, the USDA’s Farm to Family program, and funding from public and private sources.

The strength of Queens Together lies in its members. If your business wants to join, click here. There are no membership dues! On being a member, TM Walker of MumsKitchens NYC said, “Queens Together was instrumental in keeping local businesses open by connecting them with monies to provide food to front liners and those in need. We are honored to be a member of this game-changing organization.” You can also support Queens Together financially. Your donation doesn’t just combat hunger, it also supports a thriving community.

Queens Together is very active in the community. This year alone, they have held a restaurant week, an international food expo, and their third annual Thanksgiving food distribution event. These events benefit their members, members of the community in need, and foodies throughout the city. If you want to know about what they will be offering in the future, you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Finally, Rick White of The Bier and Cheese Collective said, “Queens Together’s unwavering support of small local businesses, which are the economic engine of our city and feeding people when they can’t feed themselves, is a noble pursuit of the highest calling.” Broadway Stages couldn’t agree more. We salute and thank Queens Together for the great work they do!

History of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 1924, animals from the Central Park Zoo marched down a street in Harlem accompanied by a group of immigrant Macy’s employees. These men and women wanted to share their gratitude for and pride in their newfound home. At this first parade, Santa was crowned “King of the Kiddies” on Macy’s balcony at the 34th Street store entrance. With an audience of over 250,000 people, the parade was so successful that Macy’s declared it would become an annual event. And thus, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was born.

The parade quickly became a New York holiday tradition to the joy of nearly all except the zoo animals. But, they were replaced by more predictable character balloons. These signature attractions debuted in 1927 with a helium-filled Felix the Cat.

With no way to deflate the balloon, Felix was released into the sky at the parade’s end where it eventually popped. This practice continued until, in 1932, one stray balloon wrapped itself around an airplane’s wing, sending it into a tailspin. No balloons have been released since then.

During World War II, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was suspended due to demand for rubber and helium. Balloons were deflated and donated to the government, providing 60 pounds of scrap rubber to aid the war effort. In 1945, the parade resumed, and two years later, the film “Miracle on 34th Street,” featuring footage from the 1946 parade, made the Macy’s Parade a household name.

The parade has been nationally televised on NBC since 1953. Now, more than 50 million TV viewers and 3.5 million in attendance watch this holiday treasure weave through Manhattan. The parade is a 2.5-mile route from West 77th Street & Central Park West to Macy’s Herald Square.

This year, the parade will once again air on NBC on Thursday, November 23, from 9 am to 12 pm. The procession will feature 21 balloons, 31 floats, 11 marching bands, 29 clown crews, and a plethora of celebrities of sound, stage, and screen! Broadway Stages encourages you to join in the fun and enjoy this special NYC holiday event. Be sure to dress warmly and get there early if you plan on attending in person. Happy Thanksgiving!

Get Ready for GivingTuesday | November 28

November 28, 2023, will mark the eleventh anniversary of GivingTuesday. Created in 2012 as a simple idea - a day that encourages people to do good - GivingTuesday was born and fostered at the 92nd Street Y (today known as 92NY) and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. Over the past eleven years, GivingTuesday, now an independent nonprofit, has a global network of leaders, partners, communities, and generous individuals.

On GivingTuesday, millions worldwide volunteer or donate to help make their neighborhood and world a better place. And their efforts truly do make a difference. No matter how much you can afford to give, your donation matters. Every donation received adds up and helps charities get to work and make a positive difference. And your gift is just as valuable for those giving hours of their free time. According to a study released earlier this year by the Do Good Institute, the current estimated value of each volunteer hour in New York is $35.71.

Throughout the five boroughs, New York City has over 45,000 nonprofit organizations. Whatever cause you support, there is probably a charity to serve it. Broadway Stages does its best throughout the year to support several causes and the related charities. Below are just a few deserving groups we encourage you to help on November 28.

The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH)
The Campaign Against Hunger seeks to empower our neighbors to lead healthier, more productive, and self-sufficient lives. They increase access to safe, nutritious food and related resources.

- Take Action
- Give

Community Center Services Organization (CCSO)
Community Center Services Organization Corp (CCSO) is a nonprofit organization established in New York in June 2020. CCSO offers support and services for the entire community without discrimination, including immigration, taxes, food distribution, and advice to disfranchised families and individuals. Their mission is to work until there are no hungry families.

- To volunteer, contact them at 332-228-8525 or communitycsorg.c@gmail.com
- Give

NYC Audubon
New York City Audubon is a grassroots community that works to protect wild birds and habitats in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. New York City Audubon envisions a day when birds and people in the five boroughs enjoy a healthy, livable habitat.

- Take Action
- Give

North Brooklyn Angels
North Brooklyn Angels raise awareness about food insecurity in North Brooklyn neighborhoods, organize interested neighbors to volunteer their time in meal prep and service, and build upon community organizing efforts in addressing food insecurity.

- Take Action
- Give

Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA)
The Newtown Creek Alliance is a community-based organization dedicated to restoring, revealing, and revitalizing Newtown Creek. Since 2002, they have worked to restore community health, water quality, habitat, access, and vibrant commerce along Newtown Creek.

- Take Action
- Give

St. Nicks Alliance
St. Nicks Alliance seeks to transform the lives of low- and moderate-income people through employment, education, housing, and health care. They do this by delivering impactful services with measurable outcomes to children, adults, and the elderly.

- Take Action
- Give

Committee for Hispanic Children and Families (CHCF)
Founded in 1982, the Committee for Hispanic Children & Families provides programs that reach underserved, low- and moderate-income children and families throughout New York City and the home-based childcare providers who serve them. CHCF combines education, capacity-building, and advocacy to strengthen the support system and continuum of learning for children and youth.

- Take Action
- Give

Sunnyside Community Services (SCSNY)
Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is a community-based nonprofit centered on the belief that every person deserves meaningful support to achieve their aspirations – especially struggling families and individuals. They seek to enrich lives and strengthen communities through services and engagement for individuals of all ages, beginning with those most in need.

- Take Action
- Give

GRACE Foundation
The GRACE Foundation is committed to supporting, educating, and enhancing the quality of life for children/adults and their families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder. GRACE consists of  Community Habilitation, In-Home Respite, Site-Based Respite such as Social Skills, Performing Arts Programs, gym, bowling, Music and Movement, and Summer activities, to name just a few.

- Take Action
- Give

Every dollar you donate and hour you volunteer is an investment in your neighbors and community. Broadway Stages thanks you for your investment in a better New York City and a better tomorrow!

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is a marketing initiative created and promoted by the American Express credit card brand to encourage holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States, during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

Small Business Saturday got its start in 2010 when, during the recession, American Express created Small Business Saturday®. Their intention was to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses.

This year, Saturday, November 25, is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our communities. When you shop locally, most of that goes back into the local community. In fact, of every $100 you spend at a local business, $68 goes back into the community. Moreover, nearly half of all NYC employees are employed by a small business. So, the money you spend is more than just a purchase. It’s an investment in your neighborhood!

With so many small businesses in NYC, there are always plenty of options to keep your spending dollars local. But here are a couple of Small Business Saturday events that will give you great gift options and some festivities!

●        At Empire Outlets in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island, you can look for the “Shop Local” decal to support local business owners and shop for the perfect gift. The city’s only outlet shopping destination is steps from the Staten Island Ferry. While there, you can support small business owners like Asili’s Boutique, Badassbootcamp, Vanity House Designs, New York is My Happy Place, Lauren Naomi Fine Art, Staten Island Playhouse, Hazel’s 432 food truck, and Cosmo.

●        In Queens, you can visit the Queens Craft Brigade. This market in Astoria brings together the best makers from the borough to create highly curated events featuring artwork, food, jewelry, fashion, crafts, and more. Their hours are 12 to  5 p.m. It is free and open to all ages. You can even bring your dog!

●        If you are in Brooklyn, you can #ShopMyrtle! On Myrtle Avenue, 4 out of 5 businesses are independently owned. And Small Business Saturday is the perfect day to celebrate and support them. The following shops have one-day-only sales: Dogtopia, European Wax Center, Green in BKLYN, and Jill Lindsey.

These are only a few of the options available to you. For more information about small businesses near you, you can check out Shop Your City. Broadway Stages thanks you for supporting the hardworking small business owners and employees in your community on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. 

Spotlight | Rescuing Families, Inc.

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth.

Gina and Vinny Centauro founded Truly Unique Designs, a construction and renovation firm in Franklin Square on Long Island with the motto, “Making it Right One Home at a Time.” But as they were getting the business up and running, they noticed that some families were unable to repair their homes properly. They knew that people with disabilities and financial hardships struggle every day with tasks that most people find second nature.

Facing this need with a motto like that, the Centauros came up with the idea to help homeowners with disabilities and/or disabled family members with needed renovation/modification to their homes at no cost. And thus, Rescuing Families, Inc. (RFI) was born.

The Franklin Square-based organization was created to fix up houses between New Jersey and Long Island for homeowners who could not make the repairs themselves because of disabilities or a lack of funds. RFI aims to help make their lives easier by improving and/or eliminating the hurdles in their homes. The project may be a ramp that can make it easier to get in and out of their home, a bathroom in disrepair, or anything that helps overcome a struggle.

But the Centauros can’t do all this alone. They rely on donors, sponsors, and volunteers. And while their service is a boon to those in need, it is equally rewarding to the volunteers. One volunteer said, “My husband and I love being volunteers for Rescuing Families. The work that we do to help families with disabilities is so rewarding. And I can’t say enough about Gina and Vinny. They give so much of themselves to help others.” If you want to volunteer or sponsor a project, you can find more information and apply HERE. And with the climbing costs involved in their projects, RFI always needs financial support. If you would like to donate, you can click HERE.

Another way RFI raises funds is through the events they put on, such as markets that showcase local artists and small shop sellers. In fact, they will have a Holiday Craft and Gift Boutique this weekend (Nov. 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at VFW Post 2718. There will be over 30 vendors, with 95% being craft/artisans and the other 5% being vintage/collectibles and new items.

Also, at VFW Post 2718, they will host their 4th Annual Ugly Sweater Bingo Party on Friday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be a lot of chances to win cash and prizes all night, plus food and drink. Seating is limited, and this is a popular event, so get your tickets today! You can contact them at 516-697-9403 or at rescuingfamiliesinc@gmail.com.

Check out their events page HERE to stay informed about upcoming events. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook for more information and inspiring stories.

Broadway Stages takes pride in being a business that gives back to and promotes the communities around them. It is encouraging to know they are not alone in this. As one Long Island resident said of RFI, “I can’t say enough about Gina and Vinny and their team. They inspire so many around them and give so much of themselves to anyone they can help. The work they do has such purpose, and in a world full of craziness, they are making it better!” We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Rescuing Families, Inc., for all the great work you are doing!

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Greenpoint YMCA Celebrates Community Spirit

Whether longtime residents or new neighbors, folks in the Greenpoint area have enjoyed the amenities, programs, and activities at the Greenpoint Y throughout the years. For some, the Y has been a part of neighborhood memories for their entire lives. But did you know that the Greenpoint Y has been a part of the community for 138 years? A North Brooklyn Gazette article featured in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle recently highlighted this rich history in an interview with Greenpoint Y President Kendall Charter. In the interview, Charter gives details of the beginnings of the Greenpoint Y, located since 1906 at its current location on Meserole Avenue, and mentions the new location being developed at River Ring, a mixed-use development.

Also featured in the article is the Greenpoint Y’s recent 6th Annual "Spirit of Community" Service Awards Dinner and Auction where they honored “extraordinary honorees who have made a positive and impactful contribution to the community that aligns with the Y’s mission to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.” This year’s honorees were Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez; Apple Bank’s Maureen Douglas, executive vice president, Debbie Hootam, vice president, business relationship manager, and Monika Nowicka, assistant vice president, branch manager; and Greenpointers’ Julia Moak and team. Congratulations to this year’s honorees for this noteworthy achievement!

Broadway Stages is proud to be among the sponsors of the annual service awards event. It’s a testament to our longstanding relationship with the Greenpoint Y and the commitment of our President and CEO Gina Argento who has been an active board member for years. 

See the article to read the full interview and to view photos from the recent awards gala here.

Find more information about the Greenpoint Y on their website here.

History of Presidential Turkey Pardons

Thanksgiving is an occasion often cloaked more in legend than fact. And the idea of a presidential pardon for the Thanksgiving turkey is just one colorful aspect of the legend. As the story goes, Abe Lincoln was the first president to spare a turkey. But in this case, a Christmas turkey was spared after Lincoln’s son, Tad, begged for the bird’s life. In this case, the bird went on to become a family pet.

The tradition of gifting a sitting president a turkey goes back to Horace Vose, a Rhode Island turkey farmer. He began the tradition with Ulysses S. Grant in 1873 and continued through Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Since then, a number of people and groups have given turkeys to the sitting president. That said, it was not an official annual event until 1947 under Harry S. Truman.

However, none of those recipients spared the birds. It wasn’t until 1963 that John F. Kennedy was the first president to spare a Thanksgiving turkey. At the official presentation ceremony, the president was presented with a massive 55-pound (25 kg) turkey wearing a sign reading, “Good Eating, Mr. President.” And President Kennedy said, “We’ll let this one grow,” sending it back to the farm. While some newspapers referred to it as a pardon, Kennedy did not.

Going forward, Richard Nixon and then First Lady Rosalynn Carter arranged to have the turkeys sent to petting zoos. But no official pardons were granted. In fact, the first president to mention the word pardon was Ronald Reagan in 1987. This was at the height of the Iran-Contra affair. And while being peppered with questions about pardoning Oliver North, President Reagan deflected with a joke about pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey he received.

What seems like a tradition for as long as we can remember was not actually formalized until 1989 with George H. W. Bush. At that time, President Bush quipped: “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy—he’s presented a presidential pardon as of right now—and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.” And it has been an annual tradition ever since.

SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Reach Agreement to End Months-Long Strike

We are so excited that the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on a new labor contract.

AMPTP represents the major Hollywood studios and streaming companies, while SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000+ actors. The four-month strike has delayed many productions, including those filmed at our facilities.

The new deal includes an increase in minimum wages, additional residuals for streaming programs, and protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence to replicate an actor's likeness without compensation. SAG-AFTRA said in a statement that the new deal is valued at more than $1 billion. The next step in negotiations is for actors and actresses to vote on the contract. Should they approve the deal, they could return to film and television sets, as well as red carpets and press junkets, in the coming days.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher took to Instagram to share her excitement, posting "We did it!!!!" and thanking members for "hanging in and holding out for this historic deal!"

We are thrilled at this progress and look forward to welcoming back the cast and crew members that keep our soundstages buzzing and the local economy fueled!

Spotlight: Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth.

Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue (SIHAR) is a cat and kitten rescue and adoption shelter on Richmond Ave. on Staten Island. They believe all living creatures should be treated with consideration and respect. As such, they treat all animals like family. While they rescue other injured animals and place them in their proper rescues, they specialize in rescuing and placing abused, disabled, and/or injured and abandoned cats. 

SIHAR works diligently to find a great home for each cat and kitten they take in. But before they are cleared for adoption, each animal is examined by a designated veterinarian. Then, they are medically treated, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. 

As you might expect, they take adoption very seriously. Before signing off on an adoption, SIHAR performs home inspections. The adoption fee is $180.00 for all cats and kittens. This payment covers spaying/neutering, FIV/FELV testing, shots, and any previous medical costs. One person who adopted from them said, “We are so grateful to them every day. They were a pleasure to work with, clearly love the animals, and were able to ensure the cat we rescued was a perfect fit. He could not be more perfect! ” If you are interested in adopting a cat or kitten, you can fill out an application HERE.

An alternative to adopting is fostering. Taking care of a vulnerable cat or kitten for a little while will give them a chance to find a great home. Fostering can be very fulfilling just by knowing that you have helped a rescue animal escape a difficult situation to become an adoptable pet. SIHAR would love to save more cats, but they need more foster parents. You can find out more and apply to foster by clicking HERE.

There are many ways to support the work being done at SIHAR. For instance, rescues and animal shelters would not exist without volunteers. Volunteers donate their time, talent, and money to save more dogs and cats. Their entire effort, and every animal saved, is because of volunteers! To find out more about volunteering at SIHAR, you can click HERE. Or you can check out SIHAR’s wishlist. There is always a high demand for items such as cat food, cat litter, crates, cleaning supplies, and cat beds.

As you might expect for any 501c3 non-profit organization, SIHAR welcomes your financial support. Due to a lack of funding, they have had to dramatically downsize the number of animals they can intake. Increased medical expenses have taken a high toll on the work they do. With your help, they will continue to operate and save as many lives as we can. Consider making a donation today.

SIHAR is active on both Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Follow them for information about the cats and kittens available for adoption, upcoming events, and news!

This November, Broadway Stages is reflecting on what we are grateful for. And we are thankful for the generosity, commitment, and dedication of those working with the Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue. But we are not alone. As another satisfied Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue patron said of her cat, Casper, “I’m very grateful [to] Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue for giving me a chance to give him the life he deserves!”

Alleviating Food Insecurity During the Holidays

Throughout the year, members of our community struggle with limited or uncertain access to adequate food. According to a 2021 Feeding America study, 1 in 9 people (and 1 in 6 children) in New York State faces hunger. And locally, the New York City Council’s website tells us that an estimated 1.2 million (14.6%) New York City residents were food insecure (according to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy annual 2022 Food Metrics Annual Report).

As the Broadway Stages family prepares for the upcoming holiday season, we once again ask our readers to consider helping local organizations as they work to provide food to our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity. Whether helping financially by making a donation or giving your time through volunteering, your help will be appreciated by these and other local organizations, as well as those who benefit from their services:

The Campaign Against Hunger

• Take Action

• Give

North Brooklyn Angels

• Take Action

• Give

Rethink Food

• Take Action

• Give

City Harvest

• Take Action

• Give

Food Bank For New York City

• Take Action

• Give

Community Center Services Organization (CCSO)

• Take Action

• Give

By working together, we can ensure that no one goes without food, not only during the holiday season, but also throughout the year.