Boston’s annual Toys for Joys — traditionally including one of the brightest, feel-good events on the LGBTQA calendar — is postponing its big shindig again this year so everyone can stay healthy and gather in years to come. But they’re counting on everyone to come through virtually, like last year, to help spread the joy to thousands of kids this holiday season.
For 2021, they’re upping their goal to beat last year’s generous $80,000 and reach $100K — all of which goes to purchase and deliver thousands of gifts to even more underprivileged tots and teens this year.
Toys for Joys organizers are also asking folks to make their donations as early as possible this year to ensure the toys arrive well before the holidays so they can distribute them, given the double challenges of supply chain and shipping issues. “We likely will need TWO 18-wheeler tractor trailers this year … something we have never had to do before,” they tell us in their press release.
To learn more about Toys for Joys go to toys4joys.org. To make a donation, go directly to toys4joys.org/donate/.
Here’s how they helped you spread the magic of the season to 10 beneficiary organizations last season:
1. Casa Iris/Multicultural AIDS Coalition (Jamaica Plain) — 465 Gifts Purchased ($6,000+ worth)
2. IBA (South End): 367 Gifts Purchased ($5,000+ worth)
3. Eastern Service Workers Association (Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan) — 430 Gifts Purchased ($6,000+ worth)
4. United South End Settlements (South End) — 1,101 Gifts and Art/School Supplies Purchased ($4,000+ worth)
5. Urban Farming Institute (Mattapan, Dorchester) — 191 Gifts Purchased ($2,500+ worth)
6. Boston Housing Authority, Joseph Tierney Learning Center — 313 Gifts Purchased ($6,000+ worth)
7. Boston Public Health Commission Homeless Shelter — 22 gifts purchased at Macy’s ($800 worth)
8. St. Ann’s Home and School: (Methuen) — gifts purchased at Macy’s through gift cards ($2,200 worth)
9. Respond, Inc. — boxes of toys collected at various companies and delivered to the shelter
10. Wonderfund — 1,694 gifts purchased through Group Sales; 2,027 gifts purchased through Macy’s; 120 gift cards ($25 each) purchased through Wonderfund for teens.
Let’s make the 2021 season even brighter!
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