Passaic Volunteers
Passaic Volunteers
Passaic volunteers help Latino children celebrate Three Kings Day
PASSAIC — For the hundreds of Latino children crowding the Fiesta Nightclub on Sunday afternoon, it was just like Christmas. But instead of Santa, three kings bore gifts. Instead of pie, they feasted on rosca de reyes, a sweet Latin American cake that usually includes trinkets. The kids — ages 1 to 10, mostly of Mexican or Dominican descent and from families in need — celebrated Three Kings Day in style. It was the first Sunday after the holiday, when many Latin Americans celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
“We don’t have Santa Claus,” said Alex Blanco, Passaic’s Dominican-American mayor. Seven in 10 of city residents are Hispanic. Amid thumping music, volunteers in Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes danced on stage, clowns performed, a confetti gun showered the children and parents stood patiently on the side. “The kids are more happy than me,” said Carlos Merino, who stood holding his 7-month-old while his three older children had fun.
The city’s annual Three Kings Day celebration, now in its fifth year, was Aurora Blanco’s idea. After her husband became mayor in 2008, Blanco, an elementary school teacher in the district, decided such an event could serve the children she taught — many coming from families that struggle to afford holiday presents. It would also give them a taste of their native culture, so they “don’t forget about their roots,” she said.
Each year, the Board of Education identifies children in need and sends invitations to their families. The event is open to everyone, and many parents said they found out about it on Facebook or the radio station Super Estrella. Blanco, who lived in the Dominican Republic until she was 16, recalled putting cookies and cigars out for the three kings before going to bed. Her husband, who left the same country at age 12, said he would stay up at night in excitement. “My mom would force me to sleep,” he said. They were joined Sunday by Sheriff Richard Berdnik and City Council members. Councilwoman Zaida Polanco, one of the organizers, said last year’s event drew more than 1,000 children. This year, they collected about 3,000 toys — through donations and $5,000 in fundraising — in anticipation of the biggest turnout yet. “It’s chaos,” Polanco said of the large crowd.
Fiesta Nightclub owner Ramiro Zuniga said a cleanup crew worked early in the morning just hours after the club closed at 3 a.m. Still, offering free space was a simple decision. “When it deals with kids, everyone wants to get involved,” Zuniga said. Because of the high turnout, organizers cut the line wrapping around the building into three groups, letting one group in at a time. City recreation employees served hot chocolate to those waiting outside. Inside, when the time for presents came, the children thronged the piles of toys. They also queued up for a slice of the sweet rosca cakes from a Garfield bakery. Lined end-to-end, the cakes extended about 30 feet. But even before the third group came inside, the cake was gone. Mayor Blanco and volunteers hurriedly cut slices for the endless line of children. They stepped up one by one clutching balloons, juice boxes and their new toys. Jessica Barranco, 10, waited for her family members who were in line for the cake. Her present was a bangle and headband set. “I got a box of makeup for Christmas,” she said. Another attendee standing outside the building with the board game Candy Land critiqued the clowns. “They didn’t even do anything that much!” said Denise Plata, 10, her face covered in face paint depicting a purple butterfly, Pedro Ruiz, one of the three kings parading around the room, said sweating in the robes and fake beard was worth it. “I enjoy seeing the kids leave here happy,” he said.
Email: parkm@northjersey.com