Happy Hangout crew is thankful to Baldwin

The One Happy Hangout Place is grateful to the Baldwin community, which helped make the holiday season extra special for its members.

Angela Lucas, founder of the One Happy Hangout Place, said multiple Baldwin community members helped support and embrace the Hangout crew during the holiday season in a series of charitable events throughout the holiday season.

Lucas said the first act of kindness they bestowed on One Happy Hangout Place came from the Baldwin Fire Department who stopped by with a firefighter dressed as Santa Claus to say hello to Hangout members at her home in Baldwin on Dec. 12.

“They really brought some holiday cheer to the Hangout,” said Lucas.

Lucas said the second act of kindness was from Jerry Brown, a Baldwin firefighter, who donated over 20 toys to their building at the South Baldwin Jewish Center located on 2959 Grand Ave in early December. 

Lucas said the third blessing came from her neighbor Josephine Capizzi, of Baldwin, who came to the building to decorate holiday themed cookies with members of the Hangout crew on Dec. 16, which she said they enjoyed immensely. Likewise Elissa Kirchner came to the Hangout building to create holiday themed arts and crafts with their members on Dec. 22. 

Lucas said she was surprised to be visited by so many community members this holiday season, and how much people care for the Hangout Place. She said Brian Murray, of Baldwin, who was dressed as Santa visited the Hangout to dance and play with the Hangout’s members on Dec. 23, or Christine Ruggiero DeLuca, who donated cupcakes to the crew on Dec. 23 for their holiday party on Christmas, Dec. 25. Lucas said Laura Trowbridge, of Baldwin, also donated to the Hangout crew this holiday season in the form of candy and cookies on Dec. 23.

“We really try not to ask our community for anything, so it was surprising to see the kindness of so many Baldwin residents this holiday,” said Lucas.