Braintree's Marge Crispin Center launching holiday collections
BRAINTREE – In 2020, the food pantry at the Marge Crispin Center supplied 175 local families with a Thanksgiving dinner and 224 families with a Christmas meal.
In all, the pantry provided nearly 43 tons of food to residents in need last year, everything from meat and dairy to produce and canned goods.
"I think the numbers will be up this year," said Ann Toland, the co-director of the center, which is on Lincoln Street.
Toland spoke at last week's town council meeting to kick off the center's annual holiday drives. A food collection is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at town hall. Collections of gift cards, pajamas and toys are scheduled for next month, including the Braintree police's "Fill a Cruiser" toy drive Dec. 4 and the annual town Christmas party and toy drive Dec. 9.
She said 400 children received toys and gifts through the center last year.
"Anything is appreciated and will be well-used," Toland said.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the center began delivering groceries to people who were unable to visit the pantry, including those with COVID-19.
In addition to food drives, she said the pantry gets donations from the Greater Boston Food Bank, local houses of worship and organizations, retailers including Shaw's and Target and local restaurants including Kentucky Fried Chicken and Panera.
"They enable us to help so many people in the town," Toland said of the donations.
The statistics cited by Toland may surprise some, said District 5 Town Councilor Meredith Boericke.
"People don't think there is a big need in Braintree," Boericke said.
The pantry accepts applications for assistance Mondays through Thursdays. Proof of residency is required. Applications are also available at the elder affairs office on Cleveland Avenue and at school nurses' offices.
For more information, call the center at 781-848-2124.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Braintree's Marge Crispin Center starts holiday drives, helps all year
