http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffo ... 9384.story

Central Islip girl's eloquent letter to Santa pays off
BY KEITH HERBERT | keith.herbert@newsday.com
7:04 PM EST, December 24, 2008


Amanda Campos, 8, hugs Santa in front of her home in Central Islip. (Newsday Photo / Robert Mecea / December 24, 200


The 8-year-old girl's three-page letter to Santa Claus was in Spanish.

After some effort to get it translated into English, [not going to be too difficult in a couple more years..trust me! ] her prose motivated members of the Central Islip Fire Department to action.

"This Christmas, I feel very sad," wrote Amanda Campos of Central Islip. "Because my family doesn't have money."

Amanda dropped off her letter Tuesday afternoon at the volunteer company's firehouse on Carleton Avenue. Her grandmother, Betty Bonilla, who was with her, was crying, said Phil Falco, a first assistant chief of the fire department, who said he heard about the letter from a dispatcher.
After reading the letter, members of the fire company started collecting money to buy Christmas gifts for the girl and members of her family, Falco said.

Amanda's family lives within walking distance of the firehouse, and Falco said he figures Amanda associated the firehouse with Santa Claus because the fire company on Sunday escorted Santa around town on one of its fire trucks. "We all got together and worked it out," Falco said.

Firefighters raised money on their own and purchased food for a Christmas meal. They also used money collected by Fatty McGee's Pub in East Islip; Bravo Supermarket in Central Islip donated food; and security officers who work for Newsday also contributed, Falco said. Presents for Amanda, her two brothers and two cousins were purchased, along with gift cards so that Amanda could give gifts to her parents and grandparents.

Amanda's mother lost her job, and her father works but "doesn't make enough to make it," Falco said.

All the effort came together in about five hours on Tuesday, Falco said, mostly because of Amanda's handwritten words, which included more than just a Christmas wish list.

"Thanks Santa," Amanda wrote. [In Spanish]
"Because God gives good health to me."

On Christmas Eve at about 4:30 p.m., Santa arrived in front of Amanda's home, riding a red fire truck instead of a sleigh. He delivered presents, include video games, DVDs and a new DVD player. [Too bad it wasn't an ICE van!]
"It makes me feel good," said Amanda, a second-grader at O'Neill Elementary School. "My brothers, they don't always have toys."
[Boo-F'ing Hoo..I know a lot of kids that aren't getting toys this Christmas! Maybe your El Presidente Caulderon can give you some! ]