'Zooming Thru Music' spreads holiday joy to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson, NJ
Zooming Thru Music has raised $61,663 and collected 394 toys and books (valued at $8,053.78) and the collection continues to grow
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Isolation from the pandemic may seem like a distant memory, but that does not mean efforts to lift spirits and spread joy have stopped.
Five years later, an effort started by teenagers in New Jersey to spread joy on Zoom has grown into something larger than life - in real life.
In the hospital lobby of St. Joseph's Health Foundation in Paterson, there were more than even St. Nick could fit into his sleigh. There was a benefit concert performed by high school students from around New Jersey and more than $8,000 worth of toys.
MJ Ali's two young boys were there to see their grandfather.
"They're here to give him his final goodbye, so giving them a gift kind of changed their spirit a bit," said Aki.
The fundraiser and the drive were organized by a non-profit called Zooming Thru Music. It was founded by two sisters from Wayne Hills High School in 2020 during the pandemic.
"We just started like Zoom concerts for nursing homes and hospitals," said Sophia Kim.
"As humans, it's our need and it's our duty to help each other out in these trying times," added Helena Kim.
Zooming Thru Music has since grown with nearly a hundred students involved in a handful of chapters around the country performing at nursing homes, rehab centers and adult day care centers. Their signature concert raised more than $61,000 for children in the foster care system.
"It's really heartwarming because those kids are our age group, and if you think about it, they're without their parents and they're not receiving their basic necessities," said Jay Ahn.
But sometimes the greatest necessity of all is food for the soul.
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