OK, this doesn’t have anything to do with Gaithersburg specifically; file it under miscellaneous. I noticed this story when I was looking for follow-ups on the Mamaroneck situation I mentioned a few days ago. Happily, it seems that not everyone in that community is hostile to Hispanics.
As reported by Candice Ferrette in the Westchester Journal-News:
“We are really touched,” said Eva Amaya, 45, a housekeeper from Larchmont. “They are giving more than just gifts to my children.”
Amaya said the gift her daughter gets will go under their tree and won’t be opened until Christmas Eve.
Yesterday, she was among the 250 people who attended a Christmas party hosted by members of the Westchester Jewish Center for the families of the Hispanic Resource Center of Larchmont and Mamaroneck.
The annual event took place last night in the recreation room at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church on Boston Post Road.
A mariachi band entertained guests as dozens of children played games, sang songs and received presents.
“It’s rewarding. This is the side of our community that doesn’t go to Christmas parties all the time and aren’t able to buy their kids anything they want,” said Mike Miller, 16, a member of the synagogue and a student at Mamaroneck High School.
John Gitlitz, president of the Hispanic Resource Center, agreed.
“The symbolism of a Jewish synagogue throwing a Hispanic Christmas party at an Episcopal Church is what this country is all about,” Gitlitz said. “I love it.”