Boston's annual toy drive is set to warm the holidays for many, as Mayor Michelle Wu and an assembly of community partners plan to distribute over 1,800 toys across the city. In a grand gesture of holiday community spirit, Amazon, The Toy Foundation, and local unions including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions are joining forces to ensure that children from families in need can delight in the magic of the season.
"Every single child deserves to experience the joys of the holiday season," Mayor Wu stated in a call to bring the holiday spirit home to Boston's youth, as reported by the City of Boston. The toy drive events kicked off on December 5 at the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment, and, with Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) leading the charge, gifts will be reaching little hands through December 21. Residents of BHA housing and those in adjacent BCYF neighborhoods are welcomed to join the celebrations. Jerome Smith, Head of Community Engagement for New England at Amazon, commented on the effort, saying, "Delivering smiles is at the core of what Amazon strives to do."
The excitement carries on across the city with several giveaway dates already announced. On Thursday, Mayor Wu will be present at the BCYF Menino Community Center in Roslindale to distribute toys personally alongside her team and supporters. Kenzie Bok, the Administrator of Boston Housing Authority, lauded the collective action, stating, "It’s wonderful to have so many partners come together to make the holidays a little brighter for BHA families," as noted by the City of Boston.
Not just distributing toys, but with a mission to deliver hope, this initiative represents a communal embrace for those fewer fortunate. "AFSCME Council 93 leaders and members feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Mayor Wu to make the holiday season brighter for Archdale Families," said Council 93 Executive Director Mark Bernard, as mentioned on the city's official website. AFSCME's involvement signals the union's broader commitment to the city's wellbeing, highlighting a shared ambition to usher forth a season laden with joy.
In an effort to reach even more Boston residents, the City of Boston’s Equity and Inclusion Cabinet will curate a Boston Give Back event on December 21 at Roxbury's Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building. This event offers free toys to community children and is bolstered by a collaboration with entities like Fidelity Investments and the Boston Bruins. "The holidays can be a beautiful and complex season for many of our residents," said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, as per the city's website.
For more details on this heartwarming effort or to attend one of the scheduled toy giveaways, Boston's Office of Neighborhood Services encourages engagement through the BOS:311 system. For service requests or to partake in neighborhood-based celebrations, citizens can dial 3-1-1 or utilize the BOS:311 app, available on both iOS and Android platforms.
