A Yorktown resident is continuing a long-running holiday tradition by organizing Christmas meals and small gifts for about 350 children from roughly 200 families in her hometown in the Philippines.
Lorna Groux, owner and master at Philam School of Self Defense in Yorktown, funds and coordinates the effort each year, with her siblings in Davao — a city in Mindanao, Philippines — handling the ordering and distribution to ensure the meals and gifts reach families in time for Christmas Eve.
Each boxed lunch contains chicken, vegetables, and rice, and families also receive a small sack of rice. Each person also receives a pair of flip-flops, a practical gift in a community where the footwear is widely used.
The effort was a success and the gifts were distrubted on Dec. 24, as planned.
In another example of local residents showing up for one another, Yorktown Heights resident Karin Cabral is collecting donations for her friend and fellow Yorktowner, Groux. Contributions can be made via Venmo at @Karin-Cabral, with the “What is it for?” box marked “Davao’s Children’s Christmas.”
“This was an opportunity to do something for her,” Cabral said. “She feels that her town raised her and her town has a lot of need, but the people are wonderful—she wants to do this little thing that she can do to make people happy, bring joy to the Davao residents.”
Cabral told Yorktown News that her friend, Groux, is selfless and she wanted to find ways to support her in continuing her hometown tradition.
“This was a perfect opportunity for me to help her even further,” Cabral said. “I've always given, but now—there are people who are struggling and we can do something about it.”
Updated on Friday, Jan. 2 at 12 p.m.
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