Jai and Sitara at their Christmas tree stall last weekend. Photo via family
Dec. 10, 2024 By Shane O’Brien
Two young friends from Long Island City are spreading holiday cheer and giving back in a big way.
Sitara and Jai, both eight years old, spent their weekend braving the cold to sell Christmas trees along Center Boulevard, raising money for the Ronald McDonald House and touching the hearts of everyone they met along the way.
The students from PS/IS 78 Q, decided Friday night that they wanted to make a difference this holiday season, choosing to raise money for Ronald McDonald House by selling Christmas trees in their neighborhood.
With the help of their parents, the two friends bought 10 trees and 10 tree stands from a store in Woodhaven before selling them outside the Queens Public Library at Hunter’s Point. The pair sold the trees for $99 a piece or $125 with a stand included.
Sitara and Jai spent three hours selling trees on Saturday, selling eight trees, before selling the remaining two trees on Sunday morning.
When explaining the campaign to their parents, Sitara and Jai said they thought “it would be nice to help some children who are hurt or sick.”
Photo courtesy of Sitara’s family
Sitara’s father, Kent, said the pair raised well over $500 for the Ronald McDonald House, a non-profit dedicated to families with sick children. The parents of the two children have also pledged to match their donation – and because Ronald McDonald House is matching donations made before Christmas – the total money raised by Jai and Sitara for Ronald McDonald House is $2,100.
Kent said he plans to present Ronald McDonald House with a check later this week.
Kent said Sitara and Jai caught the attention of passers-by on Center Boulevard with the slogan “$99 for a Christmas tree; all money goes to charity.”
He added that several people who had already bought their Christmas trees gave cash donations to the campaign because they were so impressed by the two young friends, including several Italian tourists who had taken a bus tour to see the LIC waterfront. Kent said that a number of Italian tourists also posed for selfies with Jai and Sitara.
Photo courtesy of Sitara’s family
The two friends are already preparing to repeat the campaign next year when they plan to sell 20 trees and sell them earlier in the year at a time when fewer people have already bought their trees.
Kent said he was a proud parent watching on as his daughter and her friend brave the cold conditions to raise money for charity over the weekend.
“I was very moved,” Kent said, adding that a number of people complimented Jai and Sitara over the weekend. “At least three people told us, ‘your kids are so impressive, please make sure they do this again next year’.”
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One Comment
An example of the true spirit of the holidays—and a reminder that kindness and generosity know no age. Great to see these two young leaders in our community going above and beyond on a cold December day to give back to those who need it the most. Bravo!
I’ll be keeping an eye out for them next year when it’s time to get a Christmas tree again!