The Legal Aid Society’s annual Holiday Party for Homeless and Other Vulnerable Children was held on this Thursday at Synod Hall on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The event marks the 36th year that the organization has hosted the party for some 500 children and their families who are or have been homeless, and who are struggling to make ends meet.

“As the homeless crisis reaches a record high in New York City, we are proud to open our doors and welcome any family in need during this holiday season,” said Janet Sabel, CEO and Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society. “As the city’s institutional legal provider serving low-income communities for over 140 years, we know that having access to stable, safe, and affordable housing is the cornerstone of maintaining a basic quality of life. We will continue to fight in our communities, courts, and legislature, to help ensure that our clients and all New Yorkers have a home to sleep in.”

Across New York City, there are nearly 80,000 people experiencing homelessness and 114,000 school-aged children living in shelters or “doubled-up” in apartments—a crisis without precedent in the city’s history. Experts predict that the crisis will continue to expand unless urgent action is taken by lawmakers. The Legal Aid Society has played an instrumental role in helping homeless families through direct legal representation and legislative advocacy. To learn more, visit our Homeless Right Project.

Special thanks to the following firms whose outstanding donations of toys, books, games and volunteers made it possible for the children and their families to enjoy the happiness of the holiday season: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP; Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; Hughes, Hubbard & Reed LLP; Milbank LLP; Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason & Anello PC; Penguin Random House; Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; Travelers; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; and Winston & Strawn LLP. Terri and Richard Kim donated hundreds of items for arts and crafts.