The Forest Park Aktion Club is an organization that's around three years old, started up by our Assemblyman, Mike Miller. It's a wonderful organization -- a Kiwanis club for adults with mental disabilities. Many of them live in local group homes, and the Aktion Club is a support organization that meets with them to determine their needs and how to tackle the issues that face them.
On December 5th, a few hours after the Christmas Parade on Jamaica Avenue, the Forest Park Aktion Club had their annual Christmas Party at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Ambulance Corps at 78-15 Jamaica Avenue. Here, a few of the organizers (left) and the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association enjoy themselves, and the food, which was cooked up by the Kiwanis -- and catered by Manor Deli.
Here is Assemblyman Mike Miller, speaking to the group, thanking those who helped prepare the food, and decorate the room, etc.
And here's Santa! Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and the Christmas Bunny had all taken part in the parade -- and Maria Thomson of WBID asked them to hang around a little bit longer for the party.
Then, one-by-one, each of the members of the club came up to have their pictures taken with Santa & Co. and to receive a gift. This was a wonderful scene to witness, and the smiles -- well, you can see for yourself. We walk around all day, and we smile at each other -- because it's the polite thing to do. But these smiles, from these folks -- they are 100% honest and real.
This was a remarkable moment. This one young visually impaired man came up to Santa and immediately asked for Rudolph. He wanted to feel his face. Here is our video report from that afternoon --
The night before had been a late one -- with the tree lighting and our talk show. Then, we stood out in the cold wind and the rain to cover the parade. So, by the time we got to this party, our butt's were dragging and we were feeling a little sorry for ourselves. This party cured us. We walked out of this on a real high -- it was real nice to be part of something special like this. Here are the rest of the pictures we took, presented largely without comment. Every person who posed is on this page below, no one was left out. Wasn't that wonderful? And can you see why we left feeling a whole lot better? Thanks to Mike Miller, the Aktion Club and the Kiwanis for inviting us. We got so excited that I had my photo taken, with Santa sitting on my lap. And Mrs. Project Woodhaven posed with Santa and Co. along with Mike Miller. And finally, we got everyone together to take one giant group picture to wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season -- enjoy! Return to Project Woodhaven's Home Page 
