The Giving Back Together Toy Drive is planning a slew of donation events aimed at generating enough toys and money to ensure no child in Franklin County or the North Quabbin region wakes up without any presents on Christmas morning.
Heather Taylor was inspired to start the toy drive in 2013 because she and her siblings never received Christmas gifts due to their parents’ struggles with addiction. Now it’s crunch time ahead of the Dec. 20 gift distribution, and Taylor is setting up donation sites where people can bring new, unwrapped toys for children and teens up to 18 years of age.
“There’s a need in the community,” Taylor said.
People can donate at Scarecrow in the Park in Cushman Park in Bernardston on Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, and all donors will be entered into a raffle. Gifts can be dropped off at a purple tent across from the Kiwanis Club’s food booth.
Donations will also be accepted at the Pictures with Santa fundraiser at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, and the holiday boot drive monetary fundraiser at the intersection of Main and Federal streets in Greenfield is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.
More information about the events is available at linktr.ee/givingbacktogether.
Taylor is also organizing a town-wide yard sale in Bernardston, set for 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 18. More sign-ups are needed at tinyurl.com/TagSale1. A minimum donation of $20 is required to participate.
Donations are also accepted via Paypal (GivingBackTogether77), Cash App ($ToyDrive38499) and Venmo (GivingBackTogether77).
Items (including baskets, gift cards and certificates for services) that can be used to assemble gift baskets can be dropped off at 88 Brown St. in Athol, 33 Spruce St. in Greenfield, 77 Second St. in Turners Falls and 10 Mechanic St. in Shelburne Falls. Those who are interested can also email givingbacktogether@yahoo.com to schedule pickup or to make arrangements for cash or check donations.
The toy drive started with fewer than 20 children and has grown into an operation that provided gifts for at least 940 kids last year. Taylor expects a similar number in 2025.
“We are expanding every single year,” she said. “I’m thrilled at how far we’ve come.”