ABCD appeals for help with Toy Drive and Help Fund

The Toy Drive & Holiday Help Fund of Action for Boston Community Development needs your assistance to put smiles on the faces of children across the city this year and help families survive and thrive during the holiday season and beyond!

ABCD President/CEO John Drew notes that many families need assistance with critical basic needs. Therefore ABCD has expanded its traditional toy drive into the “ABCD Toy Drive & Holiday Help Fund” to provide not only toys for children, but assistance to near-desperate families with food, clothing, rent payments, heating oil and other needs.

Staff at the ABCD Neighborhood Service Centers will assess families who need help and put together the toys and other assistance that will make a difference for them during this holiday season and afterward.

“We ask people to reach into their hearts and provide a toy and/or give a donation to help families in great distress this holiday season,” he said. “Every gift – no matter how small or large – will make a difference. Last year we provided 5,000 toys for children in need. This year, to meet the increase in demand, our goal is 7,500 toys plus a fund of $100,000 to help families meet critical needs.”

“For children, a new toy during the holiday season symbolizes hope and the potential for positive and joyous experiences in the New Year,” said Drew. “Many of us don’t realize that there are thousands of families in Greater Boston where parents struggle to put food on the table and pay the rent. There is no money left over to purchase a holiday toy or special gift for a child. We need to give children and families a sense of security and a joyful holiday experience.”

Drew thanks the ABCD Toy Drive’s 2010 partners, Wainwright Bank & Trust, KPMG, NBC’s Today Show, Google and Bright Horizons for their outstanding ongoing assistance serving low-income Boston families. However, given the overwhelming number of requests this year, he emphasized the need for all members of the community to join in and contribute to this important effort.

To give to the ABCD Toy Drive and Holiday Help Fund please go to bostonabcd.org or call 617-348-6559.


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