Christmas in the City New York

New York City represents excitement, opportunity, and home for millions of people. But for many families experiencing homelessness, this New York spirit is out of reach. Working with a small team of CITC veterans and a partner organization, Knock Knock Give a Sock, CITC New York was launched in 2018 to bring in our community from around the Big Apple and throw the best possible party for our neighbors in New York!

Carnival in the Big Apple

In the spirit of CITC and with the awesome support of Knock Knock Give a Sock, we started an annual tradition: the NYC Christmas Carnival. For the firsr few years, we ran a party for 300 children and their families living in homeless shelters across New York City. These families were treated to a day of:

• Live entertainment, music, and a magic show
• Photos with Santa
• Carnival games and rides
• A hot lunch and snacks

Then covid got in the way, but it was just a temporary blip. We ran a Carnival – including vaccinations – last spring, and we’ll be doing a holiday-related event this December. As of October, we’re still in planning mode. Stay tuned!

Why New York?

There are more families experiencing homelessness in New York City than any other place in the county. And we think that everyone deserves a day that’s all about being welcomed and cherished, joyful, and worry-free. The Christmas Carnival is a chance for hundreds of NYC families, children, and volunteers to come together as neighbors, celebrate the holiday season, and enjoy the day.

Want more info?

You can reach Chip Kennedy at chip@christmasinthecity.org