Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons inflated

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Thanksgiving Day morning, Hello Kitty and Papa Smurf will all make their way along the streets of Manhattan for what's sure to draw millions.

There's a slight change to the parade route this year; It goes down 6th Avenue not 7th.

In a city that has seen a lot in the last three weeks, this was something positive.

On the city's Upper West Side the parade balloons were taking shape as tens of thousands of people watched.

In the crowd was Lindenhurst resident Robin Staats. Sandy destroyed her home and turned her life and that of her family upside down.

With so many local residents struggling after the storm, the city and Macy's distributed 5,000 parade tickets to those hardest hit by the storm.

"We wanted to make sure everybody got a chance to look on the bright side. We have a lot to be thankful for in spite of Hurricane Sandy," Mayor Bloomberg said.

That is a message families may be taking to heart, as they prepare for Thanksgiving.

"What does being here do for you?" Eyewitness News asked Staats.

"Gives us hope that things are going to get better," Staats said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PARADE ROUTE AND PLACES TO WATCH FROM MACY'S

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new york city, macy's, thanksgiving day parade, thanksgiving, new york news, jeff pegues

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