Kensington Awash In Generous Holiday Spirit As The Shelter Hits A Nerve

It‘s the week of Christmas and all through The Kensington, eight families are stirring in their brand, new house. The rooms are freshly painted, though many are still empty. Everything is strange and missing that cozy familiarity of Christmas at home.

Along comes the NYPD 66 Precinct, in the persons of Lt. Michael Andreano and Officer Joseph Vitella, with a decorated Christmas tree for The Kensington lobby and other goodies to make the new shelter residents feel at home. Passers-by can see the tree from the street or take a peek from the front desk.

Still not satisfied, the dads at the 66 Precinct went searching for the perfect Christmas gift that would bring plenty of comfort and joy to the babies and kids moving into the shelter this Christmas. The result: sometime this week the precinct is sending Lt. Andreano back to The Kensington carrying a Santa’s sack stuffed with toys, donated by a local business.

Could it be The Kensington is Kensington’s blessing in disguise? Who would have guessed the deep vein of generosity lurking beneath our daily routines, exposed by the shelter’s arrival and gilded with holiday goodwill?

For the last few weeks many Kensingtonians have been doing their utmost to make the new neighbors welcome and are now reveling in the holiday high spirits rippling out over Kensington.