The New York Race Track Chaplaincy runs a Christmas Sponsor-A-Family program that provides food, clothing, toys, and gifts to around 250 families each year, with this year’s distribution taking place at Belmont Park, and includes a free dinner provided by a local restaurant, with the aim to match last year’s achievement of finding sponsorship for every family in need.
‣ The New York Race Track Chaplaincy runs a Christmas Sponsor-A-Family program that provides food, clothing, toys, and gifts to around 250 families each year.
‣ The program is made possible through the generous donations and sponsorships from individuals and organizations, including West Point Thoroughbreds and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation.
‣ The Chaplaincy also offers a range of services to the backstretch communities at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course, including enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women’s enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities, and non-denominational religious services.
The New York Race Track Chaplaincy has a special way of ending the year. It’s through their Christmas Sponsor-A-Family program. This program is one of many events, activities, and services they offer to the backstretch communities at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. It’s a heartwarming affair that touches both donors and families.
Preparation for this program takes months. The climax is the distribution of food, clothing, toys, and gifts to about 250 families just before Christmas. This year, the distribution is happening at the new Chaplaincy Center at Belmont Park. It’s set for Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Karen Chavez, the general manager of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, shared some insights. She said, “It’s hard to put into words the joy and gratitude these recipients feel each year.” Most of the recipients are far from their birthplaces and original homes during the holidays. The donations to this program help them enjoy the holidays in a way they couldn’t otherwise afford.
Chavez often gets feedback from donors. They tell her how the program “puts them in the Christmas spirit and helps them enjoy the holiday season a lot more.” She added, “They are all very glad to pitch in and we are eternally grateful for their humanitarian spirit.”
In Saratoga, there’s an extra treat. Stephen Sullivan, the owner of the Olde Bryan Inn restaurant, provides a free dinner to the gift recipients. This makes for a very special evening. West Point Thoroughbreds and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation also chip in as sponsors of the Sponsor-A-Family Program.
Last year, the program found sponsorship for every family in need. Chavez said the Chaplaincy is aiming to repeat that success in 2023. “It has been a challenging year in many ways, and we would love to bless all these families again this year,” she said.
Donations for this program can be made online on the Chaplaincy website at www.rtcany.org. If you prefer to donate by check, make it payable to the NY Race Track Chaplaincy. Then mail it to: NY Race Track Chaplaincy, PO Box 37191, Elmont, NY 11003.
The Chaplaincy does more than just the Sponsor-A-Family program. They minister to the needs of the backstretch community at the NYRA racetracks and surrounding farms. They offer a wide variety of programs, including enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women’s enrichment, social service, and recreational programs. They also provide educational opportunities and non-denominational religious services.
