With countless blessings to be thankful for, this season is the perfect time to give back to our community. Here are a few ways you can give and feel good this month!
Holiday Helper: South Boston Neighborhood House
This year, 44% of our neighborhood’s children are living in poverty. Make a difference this season by participating in the South Boston Neighborhood House “Holiday Helper” program. Last year, Holiday Helpers sponsored 287 families, donated warm winter clothing, boots, gifts, and toys for an additional 110 children and contributed over $3500 in gift cards.
You can make donations online to help families in need, volunteer by sorting gifts, or shop for a family and make their holiday wishes come true. Email [email protected] to get involved.
Labouré Center & Catholic Charities
The Labouré Center offers 9 programs and over 33 services. In the past year over 3, 500 people received assistance through programs focused on youth and families. If you missed their annual Christmas Shop or House Tours this past weekend, contact them at 617-268-9670 to get involved by volunteering your time or donating gifts for families in need. You can also visit their website!
Julie’s Family Learning Program
The beloved Julie’s Family Learning Program has been helping women and their families for decades in South Boston in beyond. Through education, providing childcare and family support, Julie’s that enables mothers and their children to transform their lives and become healthy, successful, and economically self-sufficient members of their communities! How great is that! If you would like to learn more, make a donation, or volunteer visit here!
Christmas in the City
Run entirely by volunteers, their annual party hosts over 3,000 families and children living in shelters in the Boston. A few spots are still available, email [email protected] for more info.
Toys for Tots
Every year, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collections new, unwrapped toys for needy children in the Greater Boston area. All State Police barracks in Mass will be collecting, along with most fire stations, Walgreen’s, and Bertucci’s. http://www.toysfortots.org/default.aspx
Greater Boston Food Bank
Help prepare and serve meals by volunteering or donating food for others in need. Did you know? Donating just $20 provides five meals this holiday season. Visit http://www.gbfb.org for more information and to get involved.
Warm Accessories Drive For SBNH
It’s the Fourth Annual Warm Accessories Drive for the South Boston Neighborhood House! Drop off warm gloves and hats to the South Boston Post Office now through December 20th. Look for the box in the lobby! This is the the perfect time of years to help out our fellow South Boston neighbors in need!
Toy Drive for SBNH
Lifted Fitness is hosting a toy drive for the South Boston Neighborhood House. Stop by and select an ornament from Lifted’s Christmas Tree to pick an item from a child’s list!
School Supply Drive for SBNH
Some of Southie’s shops are gather up some donations next week for South Boston Neighborhood House! From December 12th-18th, Pretty Reckless, Covet, Wears + Wares, Closet Connection, Ku De Ta and Habit will be collecting school supplies for the school age program at The Ollie. On their wish list is computer paper, loose leaf paper, pens, markers, erasers and more. You can also drop off store gift cards as well. To thank you for your donation, shops are offering 10 to 20% off your purchase! Sweet!
Room to Grow
Best Dress is accepting donation of new or gently used clothing, toys, and books for little ones for Room to Grow from December 11th-29th. Room to Grow will give donations to families in need of baby essentials and Best Dressed will give you 20% off!
Mass Bay Credit Union Coat Drive
Clean out that closet and help those in need. Mass Bay Credit Union is hosting its annual Coat and Warm Clothing drive in partnership with Friends of Boston’s Homeless Warm Hands Warm Heart campaign. Kindly donate new or gently used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and socks. Donations boxes are located in all of Mass Bay’s branches including the one in South Boston. The charitable drive is in its fifth year and has become a vital Mass Bay Credit Union tradition that members and staff look forward to participating in every year. Donations will be accepted until January 31st. So be kind and help. It’s good for the soul!
Looking for more ways to give back? Boston.com gives us 60 ways you can do good this holiday season.
The email address to reach kathy at the sbnh to donate to the holiday helper program is wrong, please edit.
[email protected]. this is the correct address, thx!
Great Article Maureen. Thanks for all the info.