A Merrier Christmas For Braintree Children in Need Thanks to Toy Drive

300 Braintree in children in need will have a merrier Christmas than expected thanks to the kindness of the community.

Town councilors took a moment during their meeting on Tuesday to thank local businesses and residents for helping make the Braintree Christmas party and toy drive at the Granite Grill the most successful in it’s five-year history.

“I think when you look at the generosity and the people that came in, it was a Braintree party. It was a collaboration of all the Braintree citizens for one great cause,” Councilor Charles Kokoros said.

Many of the councilors could not get over the amount of gifts donated from groups, businesses, and residents, which included contributions from Braintree Electric Light Department, the Braintree High School Football Boosters, and an ambulance full of toys courtesy of employees from Brewster Ambulance

“The magnitude which the toys was gathered, literally truck loads full of toys were brought in. If you could have seen the toys, it would literally blow you away. I think it’s really another example of how Braintree even as a suburb of Boston, really has its own community values,” Councilman Paul “Dan” Clifford said.

Originally starting as a drive for Toys for Tots five years ago, the toy drive has evolved into an event to help Braintree residents in need.

“After five years which Councilmen (Sean) Powers and Kokoros initiated this effort, it is a living tribute. What started as Toys for Tots, I think the direction of Toys for Braintree Tots has brought it to another level,” Clifford added.

The following were given citations for their part in helping the toy drive and Braintree Christmas Party:

• Brewster Ambulance
• The Braintree Hyatt Hotel
• The Grove family
• Braintree Football Boosters
• Utility Workers Union Local 379 of the Braintree Electric Light Department
• Julie Canell
• Jen Logovardi
• Kate Naughton
• Pat Lally for DJing the event
• The Granite Grill for hosting the event
• Boy Scouts 138
• Liberty Bay Credit Union
• Eileen Mahiney from Braintree Advertiser
• Joe Cody for providing photography