‘Spread cheer:’ Wu announces toy drive partnership with Marine Corps, urges residents to donate

Boston is now collecting toy donations and searching for volunteers for the annual toy drive in partnership Toys for Tots program, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday.

“Every child deserves to feel the joy of opening a gift and finding fun in a new toy or book, and the holiday season is the perfect time to give back to our communities,” said Wu in a release. “I encourage Boston residents to donate to the City’s annual toy drive and spread cheer to our neighbors in need.”

Toys for Tots, led by the U.S. Marine Corps, collects new, unwrapped toys and books to distribute to children in need around the holidays. Donations will be accepted at various locations around Boston through Dec. 11.

Additionally, residents can volunteer at the toy drive warehouse in the Boston Convention Center. Volunteer opportunities are available via sign-up online at the boston-ma.toysfortots.org site though Dec. 20.

“The holiday season is a great time to come together as a community and help those in need, especially our city’s most vulnerable communities,” said Community Engagement Cabinet Chief Brianna Millor, noting that City staff volunteers “are honored to lend a helping hand.”

Nationally, the Toys for Tots program has distributed 652 million toys to 291 million children. In Boston during 2022 alone, according to Toys for Tots data, the program distributed nearly 90,000 toys to over 80,000 children.

All toys are distributed through local churches, non-profit organizations and social service agencies. Families can contact these organizations to register to receive toys, according to the program site.

The city partnerships helps Toys for Tots extend “greater community reach to spread our message across our region,” said Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinator, Sgt. Ricardo Balderama.

“We want community members to know that we are here to help those in need during the holiday season,” said Balderama.

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BCYF Tobin Community Center Director John Jackson called the program “critical for families in need.”

“Most of our families are headed by single households with more than one child, so being able to provide holiday gifts to these families is always appreciated,” Jackson said.

Toy drive boxes are located across the city at the front entrance of City Hall, Central Library location of the Boston Public Library, select BCYF Centers including the Tobin Community Center and local fire stations.

Community members can find more information on donation sites on the Toys for Tots website.

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