FDNY Families Celebrate Annual Shopping Spree

On Sunday, families of fallen firefighters from New York City participated in the FDNY’s cherished “Shopping Spree” held at FAO Schwarz, leaving with not only gifts but also lasting memories.

“I met Santa and got my wallet, which was amazing,” shared 6-year-old Charlotte, one of the many children without parents at the FDNY, who left the event stacked with presents.

“There was a case upstairs with a firefighter’s hat that had 325 written on it. That was my dad’s engine,” recalled his 8-year-old brother Joseph talking about their father, Joseph Mulvey.

The event transformed entire midtown toy stores into a magical wonderland exclusively for the kids. Each child received a $200 gift card, allowing them to dash through the beloved aisles and select their desired items.

Santa made a special appearance, offering any child a chance to enjoy a ride around the block in an FDNY fire truck. Some kids even got to stand in the engine’s bucket, taking in views of Rockefeller Center alongside a grand Christmas tree.

Sponsored by the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association Widows and Children’s Fund, this initiative has been supporting children who lost firefighter parents for decades. It’s become an essential holiday tradition for many FDNY families, with some children growing up to volunteer and give back.

“As my children grew up, they learned to give back by wrapping presents and volunteering,” said Eileen Bellew, whose husband John passed away at 37 during the tragic “Black Sunday” in 2005.

“We’ve received so much from this event that we want to give back,” Ms. Bellew explained, noting that she and her four children have attended the event for 20 years without fail.

For many kids, the day means more than just receiving toys.

“All the kids here are going through similar experiences,” remarked 15-year-old Juliet, who lost her father, Tony Olkers, to cancer related to 9/11 in 2021. “It’s nice to be around others who truly understand what we’re going through.”