Here are six places to donate toys to children in need this Christmas
GARDNER ― Christmas is still a couple of weeks away, but now is the time to spread the holiday spirit by helping a less fortunate family make their Christmas morning a nice memory for their children.
Global nonprofit Save The Children posted on its website that 13 million U.S. children are living in poverty. In Massachusetts, more than 150,000 children are experiencing poverty and will rely on donations from toy drives to receive a gift from Santa Claus this year.
Several toy and food drives are not accepting any more donations, but here are six nonprofits that are still accepting holiday donations, although several need to receive their donations by next week.
Annual Angel Tree Toy Drive
Several Gardner-based nonprofits, including the senior center, and Gardner's Rotary and Interact clubs collaborate to purchase unwrapped toys, winter clothes, and food items for more than 400 families in need in the Gardner community. The local groups organized the drive through a sign-up method, where donors can choose a child they would like to sponsor for the holiday season. Further instructions on how to participate in this toy drive are on the sign-up website at signupgenius.com/go/20f084aaca82aa0fb6-angel1.
Donations need to be dropped off at 294 Pleasant St. on Monday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Giving Tree fundraiser
Gardner's local Catholic church, Annunciation Parish, 135 Nichols St. is holding a Giving Tree fundraiser. Cash donations may be placed in an envelope marked St. Vincent de Paul and placed in a collection basket or delivered to the parish office.
Gardner CAC holiday toys
Every year, the Gardner Community Action Commission collects nonperishable foods, children's toys, and winter clothes to give to those in need.
The nonprofit will stop accepting newborn to 12-year-old children's toys, stocking stuffer items, coloring books and crayons, kids and young adult books on Monday, Dec. 12. Along with toys, the CAC is making holiday food baskets for families struggling to afford the increasing prices of groceries. Canned green beans, cranberry sauce, and gravy are just a couple of items that the organization is asking for the holiday food baskets.
To learn more about what you can donate to the CAC this month visit their online Wishlist at gardner-cac.org.
Holiday food and toy drive
The Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce is collecting unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items, and money donations for the Gardner and Winchendon CAC. Donors can drop off items in the chamber office at 31 Lake St., Suite 101, or request a donation pickup by contacting the Chamber of Commerce.
To contact the Chamber of Commerce, visit its website at gardnerma.com.
Toys for Tots
Since the organization was established in 1947, 18 million toys have been distributed across the country to 7 million children. There are two Toys for Tots drop-off locations in Gardner.
The first location is the Edward Jones office at 308 West Broadway, Unit 2. The office will collect unwrapped new toys until Friday, Dec. 16. It is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The second location is Gardner Animal Care Center at 73 Eaton St., which is collecting unwrapped toys until Saturday, Dec. 17. The animal care center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To learn more about Toy for Tots, visit the organization's website at toysfortots.org.
Save The Children
The international nonprofit has year-round programs that support children all over the world, but its most popular donations are given during the holiday season. The organization has a gift catalog that a donor can look through to decide what they would like to donate. The catalog has gifts as simple as a $15 soccer ball to a $55 two-week donkey delivery service that helps children in international rural communities obtain the supplies they need.
If you aren't sure what gift to purchase, then there are options in the catalog to donate money to programs that help children of a specific location. To learn more, visit Save The Children at savethechildren.org.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Donate to these six non-profits that help families during the holidays
