Mayor Wu, Archbishop Henning Help Spread Cheer at Menino Family Toy Drive

On December 24, bicycles, board games, and other toys lined the floor of the Catholic Charities Teen Center gymnasium, as over 300 families from the Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood in Dorchester received gifts and shared Christmas wishes with Santa thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Menino Family Toy Drive.

Now in its 32nd year, the initiative honors the legacy of former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and highlights the importance of charity and partnership across non-profit, government, and business sectors. The event is now run by Menino’s grandchildren and supported by local organizations, private donors, and the Boston Police Department.

“What’s most important is people and making sure that everybody is taken care of,” said Mayor Michelle Wu, who helped hand out gifts to local families. “If government can be there to help people, if [the] community can come together to help each other … then the city of Boston is always going to be OK.”

Speaking to volunteers before the distribution, Boston Archbishop Richard Henning expressed his gratitude for the support of the Catholic Charities teen center, which serves youth ages 11-19 and serves as a safe haven during after school and summer hours. “With everything going on in the world, this is a place to play, create new friendships, to learn, to grow, ” he said.

Related Coverage: 

WCVB: Menino Family Toy Drive Serves More Thank 300 Families in its 32nd year

The Boston Globe: ‘It Means a Lot.’ Holiday Gifts donated to 300 needy families in Dorchester