GREENFIELD — In the fifth year of Heather Taylor’s toy drive, she’s expecting 500 children who will be hoping to find their Christmas gift from her drive this year.
If so, it will be the biggest turnout to date for Taylor’s “Giving Back Together 5th Annual Toy Drive,” but for it to be a success for the kids in the community, she needs a big, last-minute push.
The toy drive is collecting at multiple sites up to Monday, Dec. 17.
There is a donation box at the Greenfield Community Television lobby at 393 Main St., which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. People can also drop off on the porch of the home at 23 Pond Street in Greenfield anytime of day. And this year, for the first time, Taylor is collecting toys at the North Quabbin Coalition in Athol, on 251 Exchange St., which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s a good opportunity to get your kids involved in giving back in the community and teaching them the importance of helping others,” Taylor said.
Toys, along with clothes and hygiene products, are welcome. Finding appropriate gift for teenagers is the typical challenge, she said, but said gift cards, used electronics, candles, sports equipment, body scents are all useful. Any unused donations will be brought to the Franklin Area Survival Center in Turners Falls.
People can pick up gifts for their children Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Faith Church on Silver Street in Greenfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year, parents will be asked to come with a birth certificate for each child and to bring their own license or ID, which is about “holding integrity” in the toy drive, she said. For those who are unable to meet this requirement, they can come from 1 to 2 p.m.
In the drive’s first year, just under 20 children were served, but it’s grown exponentially since then, she said. Last year, close to 350 children were able to get a gift for the holidays from her toy drive.
“It’s about building community and getting as many people involved as possible,” Taylor said.
Local businesses are welcome to collect toys as well, Taylor said, and she made sure to note the help those businesses that have already stepped up have been. At the end of the day though, as she said, it’s about bringing the community together and helping people feel a sense of belonging.
“As a woman in recovery myself, I can’t say my kids have never woken up with nothing, but I’ve certainly put my addiction ahead of my children,” Taylor said. “This is my way of making a difference in the community … I really don’t want another child to wake up Christmas morning sad.”