The owners and staff of Creston Pharmacy in Bedford Park spent one of the days leading up to Christmas donating their time, wrapping hundreds of free gifts, and handing them out to the neighborhood’s children.

 

The Christmas giveaway was held on Saturday, Dec. 23, inside the pharmacy, located at 29 East 198th Street and Creston Avenue. As word of the event began to spread, a line of mothers each pushing baby strollers or holding the hands of toddlers soon spilled out of the store and onto the sidewalk.

 

“Betsy,” a resident of East 198th Street had her three kids in tow as she said of the pharmacy, “They opened here not too long ago and they’re from the neighborhood.” She added, “It wasn’t unexpected because they told us about it, but it’s a good thing for the neighborhood. You know some people are in need right now.”

 

Asked if the extra present under the tree is helpful, Betsy replied, “Yes, absolutely! You know sometimes you don’t have it; times are hard right now, and an extra gift is nice.”

“Jade,” one of the owners of Creston Pharmacy, along with co-owner, Zaheer, said they were very happy to organize the event for the community, along with their colleagues and employees, including Aileen and Grisel.

Jade said the store had recently celebrated their first year in business, telling Norwood News, “This is our first annual toy giveaway.” Asked how many gifts they would be handing out on the day, she replied, “A couple of hundred.” A colleague quickly added that the total number was 350.

 

On the same day as the toy giveaway took place, as reported, a young man attacked his family with a knife during a domestic dispute at the Bedford House Green supportive housing complex located at 2865 Creston Avenue, also in Bedford Park. The man, Michael Dotel, 30, a father of two, was later shot by police during the incident. Dotel’s mother later spoke briefly to Norwood News on the tragedy.

 

Some mothers attending the toy giveaway said they were trying not to think about what happened up the block and shared their sorrow and sympathies with the family of the deceased in the midst of the festive season.

 

*Síle Moloney and Miriam Quiñones contributed to this story.