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While they may not be dressed like elves, a group of women in Astoria, Queens is making many holiday wishes come true. Under the guidance of Danielle Mahoney, Seeds of Love, a volunteer group, is providing nearly 100 families with holiday gifts.

"Some of the items are bought through our fundraising and the majority of it has been donated through generous friends, [or] even strangers,” says Mahoney. “We have a Christmas tree set up at a local bank in Astoria with ornaments on it and you can pick an ornament and come back with a present."

Mahoney founded Seeds of Love two years ago as a way of motivating the community to give back. Since its inception, the small group of Astoria volunteers has raised thousands of dollars to support children with cancer, assisted at soup kitchens throughout the five boroughs and wrapped hundreds of donated gifts.

"Danielle gives back to the local community and I really favor local charities," says volunteer Stacy Rosenberg.

"I realized what amount of work this girl does, between reading books for the blind, passing out food for the homeless, the holiday collection of toys and gifts for the kids,” says volunteer Irene Zajac. “At school we have kids make holiday cards, Thanksgiving cards. We raise money for families in need. It's just amazing the kind of work that she does."

Mahoney, who is a public school teacher, says helping others was instilled in her when she was young.

"I come from a family that was always giving. Growing up with my mom, she was always part of some volunteer group, working with Manhattan Special Olympics," says Mahoney. “So, we always had that underlying thing.”

Volunteers say the organization lives up its name, planting the spirit of charity into volunteers of all ages.

"We know Christmas as one thing. We wake up and there are presents under the tree, and my kids wake up and there are tons of gifts there for them,” says volunteer Jennifer Bayer. “We're so removed from the other side of the spectrum where there are kids who wake up on Christmas morning and there isn't anything under the tree for them. So, if we can help just make that one day special for them, it's worth it."

"To know that I'm helping within my area makes me want to do it even more, because you’re seeing the people around you,” says volunteer Julianna Fricchione. “You see the benefit at once."

So for encouraging her volunteers to sow “Seeds of Love” in their community, Danielle Mahoney is the New Yorker of the Week.

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