City supporting two local holiday gift drives for children and teens

In the giving spirit of the season, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is announcing the City’s annual support of local holiday gift and toy donation drives. Toy and gift donation collection boxes will be placed at City buildings, libraries, and firehouses from Monday, December 1, through Wednesday, December 17. Donated gifts will support two community gift drives for families in need of gifts for children and teens this holiday season.

All gifts will be distributed to families by two local efforts: Toys for Local Children, a long-standing local charity that organizes annual holiday gift drives, and The Somerville Toy Drive (somervilletoydrive.org), an initiative organized by community members (including the organizers of the MAMAS Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville annual gift drive as well as other residents). More information on their gift drives and other ways to help can be found at toysforlocalchildren.org or via email at somervilletoydrive@gmail.com.

What to Donate:

To donate, please bring new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children as well as age-appropriate gifts for teens. Please donate only new items. Gifts are needed for all ages from infants to age 14. Gifts are especially welcome for ages 0-2 years and 8-14 years.

Where to Donate:

Donate at the following Somerville City buildings, libraries, and firehouses. Collection boxes will be in place from Monday, December 1, through Wednesday, December 17, at 4:30 p.m.:

Locations and Boxes:

Note: Boxes located inside City buildings are only accessible during normal business hours

• City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Welcome Desk, 1st floor, and Mayor’s Office, 2nd floor

• Somerville Central Library, 79 Highland Avenue

• Somerville West Branch Library, 40 College Avenue

• Somerville East Branch Library, 115 Broadway

• City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Avenue

• DPW Building, One Franey Road

• Council on Aging Offices, 167 Holland Street

• Somerville Police Headquarters lobby, 220 Washington Street

• Fire Stations:

• Somerville Fire Department Headquarters, 266 Broadway
• Highland Ave. Station, 265 Highland Avenue
• Union Square Station, 255 Somerville Avenue
• Teele Square Station, 6 Newbury Street (corner of Holland Street)
• Lowell Street Station, 651 Somerville Avenue (corner of Lowell Street)
• Assembly Square Station, 455 Middlesex Avenue