Hey, all you kids of North Bergen – You better not pout, you better not cry, you better not shout and all that stuff, because Santa Claus is coming this morning (Sunday, Dec. 7) to Schuetzen Park for the annual township Christmas party!
The party, coordinated and organized by the township’s Parks and Recreation Department, will enable 550 youngsters from infants to 9-year-olds to have fun, receive a free gift and meet Santa Claus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It’s the eighth year the party has taken place – and a good portion of the funding for it comes from the dedication of a local businessman whose summer golf outing raises the money to purchase the toys and gifts.
Larry Gold, the owner and proprietor of Gold Coast Cleaners on Kennedy Boulevard, organizes a golf outing every summer to help raise the funds for the Christmas party. This year, Gold’s outing raised $25,000, which was the highest total in the eight-year history of the outing.
“When you see the kids, it really gives you a sense of warmth,” said Gold, who has watched his outing grow to all-time heights this year. “It’s an incredible sight to see kids receiving bicycles or a big toy, kids who would never be able to get a gift like that for Christmas. You see their faces light up with joy, and it’s just a great feeling.”
Gold said that his tournament has raised more than $100,000 over the years, but this year’s was the biggest turnout, with more than 170 golfers contributing to the cause.
“It was a magnificent day that leads to this party,” Gold said. “I had some great help from Freeholder Tom Liggio, my partner, Mario Marghella and Jimmy Nahira [who works for the township]. The amount we raised was phenomenal. I can’t wait to see the kids. That’s what it’s all about.”
After the money is raised, then Allen Pascual, the commissioner in charge of the Parks and Recreation Department, and his staff take over, purchasing the gifts for the children who pre-registered at Town Hall to participate in the party.
“It’s huge,” Pascual said. “The party is so important to all of us. There are so many families that look forward to the party every year. We have so many toys and gifts, and every kid goes home with something.”
The Recreation Department does registration at Town Hall for a week in late November, where parents are required to bring a birth certificate and a proof of residence in order to receive a ticket to the party.
“The kids are broken down by age groups and gender, so this way we know what we have to go out and purchase,” Pascual said.
Once the children arrive at the party with their ticket in hand, the ticket is placed in a bin and the major gifts, like the 100 bicycles that have been either purchased for the party or donated by James Vincent Bicycles in North Bergen, are raffled off.
“That’s the only way we can do it fairly,” Pascual said. “Everything is done by random selection.”
The children are also given a small gift, as well as some juice and cookies.
Other presents being handed out are inline scooters, tricycles, boom box radios, Barbies, stuffed animals, X-Men and Power Ranger action figures, and games like Monopoly and Candy Land.
The children will be entertained by characters from All-Star Entertainment featuring Sponge Bob and Patrick, Dora the Explorer & Boots; Rudolph, Frosty, Sleeping Beauty, Spiderman, Nemo, Grinch – and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“It’s just a great, great event and it’s my pleasure to be able to help,” Gold said. “I look forward to it every year. It makes me feel good to be able to contribute. It’s a great feeling to see the kids’ faces.”
“Larry Gold and the golf outing deserve the kudos, because without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Pascual said. “We do get donations from some of the vendors, but the majority of the cost comes from the outing. This is the biggest perk of the job, being able to do something like this for the kids. I had so much fun last year and I’m looking forward to seeing the kids again this year. Kids get bikes and these kids would never be able to get bikes without it. It’s truly a great day.”