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Chris Moshinskie assumes role of Santa to help charities effective November 5
Santa is on his way back from a Caribbean vacation to give some local charities help in raising needed funds. Expect to see him suited in his Caribbean shirt, shorts and flip flops as he makes his way to Hicksville on November 5 to appear at the free Friends Travel Expo being held at Antun's Caterers from 10 a.m. to 3 pm. Local charities, including Cruise for Causes, Marty Lyons Foundation, Yours Ours Mine Community Center (YOM), Hicksville-Jericho Rotary, Teddy Fund, and, American Lung Association will benefit from Santa's help. Travel packages at substantial savings have been planned for each of the organizations to promote as fundraisers. A generous donation is made to the charity by Friends Travel for each person who books a cruise with the sponsoring organization. Santa, the Head Elf, a/k/a Chris Moshinskie of Islip has assumed the role of Santa for years raising money and collecting toys for children in Long Island communities and working with charitable organizations such as Make A Wish Foundation, the Marine Corps' Toys For Tots Program, American Cancer Society, John Theissen Children's Fund and other organizations as requests are received. Moshinskie's rise to the title of "Head Elf", as he bills himself, is a Christmas story by its own merits. It involves the death of a friend's child on Christmas Day and how she was inspired by a hand crafted Christmas display at a home in Lindenhurst to restore affection for the Holiday. When Moshinskie noted the lack of Santa's presence in the display, the owner of the home appointed him to take on the position. That was seven years ago. The rest is history, as they say. Moshinskie continues to volunteer, annually, at the Harding Street home. Of his charity work, he says, "It's my hobby. I can't play golf, I can't donate $5,000, so this is the way I help." A lucky winner of one of the hourly prize drawings at the Expo may be able to join Santa on his next Caribbean trip and it's possible Santa may be part of the lineup of workshops by travel experts offering his advice on the best way to pack bags for short trips.
For information about the Travel Expo, contact Ann Torcivia at Friends Travel at 822-5966 or by email at friendstravel@optonline.net.
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