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Bebeto Matthews / AP
"Sandy Claus" Michael Sciaraffo makes a toy delivery to a home in the Bell Harbor neighborhood of New York on Dec. 18, 2012. Using Facebook, Sciaraffo started a charitable enterprise to collect and personally deliver toys to children affected by Superstorm Sandy.
Bebeto Matthews / AP
Sciaraffo, a political consultant who has worked for Hillary Clinton and City Hall, sits at his workstation in Brooklyn as he takes a phone request for a toy on Dec. 18, 2012.
The Associated Press reports — From his toy-cluttered Brooklyn apartment, the man in the red suit was making his list and checking it twice. But he made no distinction between naughty or nice: Every child on it would receive a gift from this Santa Claus.
Related: 'Stars of hope' brighten Breezy Point
For the children whose toys floated away during Superstorm Sandy, Michael Sciaraffo is playing the role of a real-life Saint Nick. Every afternoon and night, he stuffs his red sack to the brim with presents and heads out to storm-ravaged homes, personally delivering new toys to awestruck little kids whose play rooms were destroyed by floodwaters.
Bebeto Matthews / AP
Elizabeth Sampol holds her daughter, Ella, 14 months, as she receives a toy from Michael Sciaraffo in the Belle Harbor section of Queens on Dec. 18, 2012.
The charitable enterprise grew out of a Sandy donation outreach effort that Sciaraffo had been spearheading for weeks in the wake of the storm, drumming up donations of clothing and food through Facebook. As the holidays approached, he realized that lots of children would be without their toys this year. Read the full story.
See more images of superstorm Sandy and its aftermath on PhotoBlog
Bebeto Matthews / AP
Ella Sampol looks at her present as her mother Elizabeth and Michael Sciaraffo look on, on Dec. 18, 2012.
Bebeto Matthews / AP
A rainbow appears as Michael Sciaraffo leaves the home of Ella Sampol in Belle Harbor, Queens on Dec. 18, 2012. "You don't see that every day," Sciaraffo said, grinning as his beard slipped down his face a little. "Amazing."
Santa Claus brought early gifts to some of the children in New York affected Hurricane Sandy. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
Leave a Comment:
I used to sign my name SANDY CLAUS....at Christmas time since I was a little girl. So glad to see this Santa going into their homes. One catastrophe after the other, when and if it will ever stop? I feel so helpless for everyone, and have tried to do as much as I can in offering donations, etc. However, will continue to do so, regardless.
God Bless you all for your loss of your homes, families, animals, and possible loss of hope. I will keep you all in my daily INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH PRAYERS.
Sandy Castor
Carson City, Nevada 89705
COOL.
What a sweet and kind man. Gives me such pleasure to read this after all the pain of this last week. May God bless Michael Sciaraffo and us all through these trying times.
wow what a guy! there are miracle this year. God bless
Wow.. One of the most heartwarming stories I've read in a long while. Great Job "Santa"! The world needs many more like you. :)
Thank you Michael Sciaraffo, for setting such a great example of good in these unsettling times!
Wow, what a great guy!
Made me happy to read this. Good to know that there are such wonderful people left in this world. Hearing shortly after literally having a nightmare about the state of world today made me have hope in the people of this world again.
Nice to see somebody doing a good thing. I still believe in Santa Claus and I am 41 years old. This just confirms my belief that he is alive and well in all the good hearts of the world. Every time we think of others before ourselves we honor Jesus and the spirit of giving.
Here is a true example of Love in action. God bless this gentleman for going the extra mile for those
who are still lacking in so many ways! And a very blessed Christmas to this Santa and all the victims
of super storm Sandy!!!
Now, THIS is NEWS which is WORTH WRITING and READING.
THIS is the very type of thing the media, and the internet, have been lacking.
True Christmas spirit, Kindness, and Generousity.
Wishing him, and the victims, of Hurricane Sandy, the very Merriest of Christmases, and a Happy Holiday season.
May God Bless this man, and his efforts.
God knows who to get here on earth to his work and this man is surely one of those angels working for Him. To do this for these people and the children is so very special, and I for one say to him Thank you so much for doing this for these people
A role model for all of mankind!
This is a great thing, But by the pictures i see these families are NOT in need like alot of kids are in this country....maybe we can feed the ones that will go without a toy or a meal this Christmas instead!
I completely agree with you. Families who live in this area have plenty of money to buy their kids new gifts and provide them with basic needs such as shelter and warm food on the table. There are so many that are not as lucky. I give this man all the credit in the world, but please keep in mind these families and children (like the family showcased in the story, not including all affected families of course), should be thankful for what they have and realize how privileged they are to be as well off as they are. It is their choice to live where they live.
Well, how about you start that up cableguy, or warmandfuzzy??
Yes, there are a lot of people who need help, in many ways. This guy took the initiative to do what he felt in his heart to do, as a way to help people and bring a little brightness to their holiday. You really have no right to criticize, nor should you judge if these people are 'actually needy.' They undeniably went through a horrendous ordeal with that storm. To have anyone take the time to go out of their way, just to brighten the holiday/day/week/month/year for a child they've never even met, is a beautiful thing. How you can find a fault in that is more of a testament to your character than anyone else's.
"Be the change you wish to see in this world"
Now that is a great story what a great man. So glad that the news did write about this its about time we heard good stuff in the news. THis is the true meaning of christmas and you are right there is a Santa in all of us if we just believe. God bless this country and everyone in it. Merry Christmas everyone!
I love this Man. God bless him. We need more people like him.
This is a great thing this guy is doing but, why not feed the kids that will go without nothing this year,a toy a meal and heat in there home or worse living in a shelter or on the streets.
Are you kidding me!! What a guy? Like he doesn't have his own things to deal with he puts the little kids first! God bless him and the sleigh he rode in on. I wish I could be more like him and I think I'll try. This is really what Christmas is all about. Score one point for human kindness!
An act of kindness, one we should ALL be exercising right about now. I am grateful for folks like him. Merry Christmas, Sir, and to all the residents in Sandys path, may your New Year be filled with hope, and healing.
Are you kidding me!! This guy is awesome. Like he doesn't have his own issues after the storm he puts the little kids first!! God bless him and the sleigh he rode in on. I wish I could be more like him and I think I'll try. Score one point for human kindness, just what we need to help overcome our grief. Thank you Sandy Claus!!
After all the horribleness that I've read in the news lately its nice to see something good. Bless his heart for that act of kindness. Pass on the kindness.
I love that picture of Sandy Claus.It reminds me of a modern Norman Rockwell picture.Great story and heart lifting after the news of the past weeks.The photographer should be given a photo journalist award for these two awesome pictures of Sandy Claus among the litter strewn beach.I would love to buy these as posters and the money could go into a fund to help those whose homes have been destroyed and need some monetary assistance.Now that would be an awesome act of kindness and bring the holiday spirit to even the hard hardest Grinch.
Love it, and that picture of him with the rainbow is so beautiful and powerful.
Who said there is no Santa Claus!!!!!! I always believed and 50 years later I still do. He is alive and well in the heart of men and women like Michael Sciaraffo.
So nice to see really kind people who have made the time to give a blessing to others. What a precious man with a giving heart.
Good on ya lad. Many blessings to you and all those who helped you. Thank you for bringing some smiles to the kids out there.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! God bless this Man and those whom he has touched. Now if we could only get some of the other people that have worked or are working for the government to get off their dead butts and do something for regular people...it would be a wonderful Christmas for all. Instead all we get is lip service. Hey Politicians!!! This is what a REAL MAN looks like...he cares for others, selfless and kind, strong and willing to lend a hand.
God bless this wonderful man and the people who donated toys for these children. Times like this remind you there is good in the world.