PERTH AMBOY – On Friday, January 8th, 2010, Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) will be attending the Holiday/Three Kings Day Celebration held by The Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc. (PRAHD). The celebration will feature their annual toy distribution made possible by donations from various businesses, corporations and individuals and serves over 600 needy children each year.
The traditional Latin-American celebration known as El Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, marks the biblical event when three kings bearing gifts followed a star that led them to Baby Jesus. Three Kings Day is usually celebrated on January 6th, but children anxiously prepare for the holiday the night before by lining an empty box with hay, dry grass, or old rags, as if Baby Jesus were to lie in it. The boxes are then placed under or at the foot of their bed. Then on January 6th, they wake up to find three presents in the box to represent the three gifts given to Baby Jesus by the Magi.
“This traditional celebration is one that should not be neglected due to the tough economic times the families of New Jersey are facing. Families are struggling to put food on the table and even more so to place gifts for their children under their beds,” said Senator Buono. “It is important to keep these beautiful traditions alive for the children of New Jersey and the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development works every year to make this possible for numerous children of low income families that may not receive any gifts for the holidays.”
The Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is a non-profit organization, which provides services to families whose income is at or below the poverty level through programming such as Pre-School, After-School Tutoring, Drugs and AIDS Prevention Programs, Senior Citizens, Blind Prevention and Multi-Services.
“Nonprofit organizations play a fundamental role in providing assistance to our citizens, and the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development is no exception,” said Senator Buono. “I am honored to partake in the festivities held by the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development and I wholeheartedly thank them and the businesses and organizations involved for their extensive efforts to help families in need and to ensure that the children are able to continue to experience their cultural traditions despite the economic hardships their families may face.”
What: Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc. (PRAHD) Holiday/Three Kings Day Celebration
Who: Hosted by Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc. (PRAHD)
When: Friday, January 8th at 3-5PM
Where: 100 First Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
For additional information, please contact: 732-205-1372