The Town of Oyster Bay honored a philanthropic resident at its latest board meeting.
Bob Eslick is the founder of Old Bethpage’s Kids Helping Kids, a charitable organization that has helped children in the area for 28 years. Eslick founded the organization out of his home in an effort to provide children with coats and other pieces of clothing for the wintertime.
“They’re our community, and we must take care of those in our community where we can,” Eslick said.
Kids Helping Kids distributed 700,000 coats in 2024, according to Eslick. He said that one of the highlights of the organization this past year was sending coats to flood victims in North Carolina. He also said that the charity worked with EAC Network, American Credit Inn and Catholic Charities for their cause.
Eslick said that Kids Helping Kids has provided over 12 million children with winter apparel since being founded in 1997.
“You set the bar on the definition of what that means to help others, and you always make it about the kids instead of yourself,” Town of Oyster Bay Sueprvisor Joseph Saladino said to Eslick.
Eslick is also a marathon runner, competing in over 42 races. He said that competing in a marathon is not unlike running Kids Helping Kids.
“Belief is at the start, but victory to all is at the finish,” the philanthropist said.
Eslick was joined by members of his family as the town board presented him with a citation for his charitable work.
