Christmas Party, Toy Drives: How To Help Needy Braintree Families

BRAINTREE, MA — The holiday season is here, which means Christmas shopping, time with family and lots of other fun festivities.

But not every Braintree family can afford Christmas presents. The town isn't commonly thought as a place where people need assistance, but there are areas of need. In the heart of Braintree square, the median income is two-thirds what the rest of the town is.

This is where the Marge Crispin Center comes in. The town's food pantry/social services center will collect toys to help make the holiday season brighter for families in need. Center volunteers need the help of residents to make this a reality. Here are a few ways residents can help:

Braintree Christmas Party

The 12th Annual Braintree Christmas Party will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Granite Grille, 703 Granite St.

Admission is a new, unwrapped toy for boys or girls ages 3 to 12. Gift cards to area stores are also needed for older children ages 13 and up in denominations of $5 and $10.

Pajamas for boys and girls of all ages are needed again this year. The Marge Crispin Center will provide pajamas to each child that receives help this holiday season.

Appetizers and a cash bar will be available with holiday music provided by Pat Lally of South Shore Entertainment. Santa Claus will take a break from the busy North Pole and also make an appearance and be available for pictures at the party's “Selfie with Santa” station.

Braintree police "Fill a Cruiser" toy drive

Braintree police will get the giving spirit started on Saturday with its annual "Fill a Cruiser" toy drive.

The drive-thru toy drive benefits the Marge Crispin Center's efforts to assist Braintree families in need this holiday season. Both toys and gift cards will be accepted.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Braintree Police Department and Brewster Ambulance Service will hold the drive in front of Braintree Town Hall. Donate some toys and enjoy some free cookies from Montilio's and hot chocolate. The town hall is located at 1 JFK Memorial Drive.

If you can't make the drive, but still want to donate, don't sweat it. Braintree police will collect donations in the station's lobby at 282 Union St., until Dec. 9.

Every person that donates a toy or gift card will receive a special thank-you card and invitation to the 12th Annual Braintree Christmas Party.

The last chance to donate will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday Dec. 11, at the Braintree Masonic Buillding at 403 R Washington St. Items for older children will be collected, including coats, gloves, scarfs, socks, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweatpants, makeup, perfume/cologne and basic toiletries.

Volunteers say the demand for toys is great this year with many requests being made of the program, particularly gifts for older children in grades 6 through 12. The annual Christmas party was started 12 years ago as a way to celebrate the holidays while also being a part of the Christmas giving season. Volunteers said this might be the only chance a family has at giving their children something for Christmas.

The volunteer committee is also extremely grateful to the Granite Grille and staff for the generous donation of the venue and food for the party.

"Every year the people and businesses of Braintree are so generous and have always come through and then some, and we know that they will again support these toy drive and collection efforts," said Sean Powers, the chair of the Marge Crispin Center Holiday Program.

If any business or organization would like to become part of the toy and collection drive, they can contact Sean Powers at 781-727-9408 or braintreechristmas@gmail.com.