LYNNFIELD — The Ladies of Lynnfield will hold its annual Holiday Toy Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the newly restored Pope-Richard Family Historical Centre from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
This is the 53rd straight year that The Ladies of Lynnfield have held a holiday toy drive.
Local realtor Ellen Rubbico Crawford said the event started in 1969 when Lynnfield’s Rita Anzuoni, Anne Caniff, Kay Cotter, Josephine Moran, and Pat Mulica founded the Ladies of Lynnfield, a charity to benefit the North Shore Catholic Charities. Originally, the group held a neighborhood get-together to help families in need give their children a holiday to remember.
Over the years, the drive grew to the point where the event relocated to the church basement at Maria Goretti Catholic Church on Chestnut Street. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the drive was held virtually but last year the event was held in person again, this time at the Meeting House on the Town Common when the drive collected more than $4,500 in donations.
“For over 50 years, the vision and tradition shared by these five very compassionate women remains steadfast and is carried on by the generous women who have stepped up to continue the mission,” Crawford said. “The group has been bestowed the title of the largest private toy drive on the Northshore and we are proud to say we provide for children of all denominations.”
This year, the drive was moved to the Pope Richard house due to the fact that the Meeting House was being prepped for Saturday’s Country Store.
Once again, the drive will support the Annual Catholic Charities Holiday Collection (formerly the Catholic Charities Toy Drive).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Ladies will be collecting gift cards of any amount from WalMart, Target and Market Basket or any local supermarket, as well as gift cards from clothing stores.
The Ladies will also be collecting items for teens in foster care/Department of Children and Families (DCF). Suggested donations for teens in foster care include make up, perfume, nail polish, hair remover, hair accessories for teens, toiletries, board games, adult coloring books, beading activities, deck of cards, art supplies or teen oriented crafts.
Collected items will be distributed to non-denominational groups and organizations throughout the North Shore in collaboration with Catholic Charities.
Donations can be dropped off on the night of the event or anytime at 5 Temple Road in Lynnfield. Donations by Venmo are also an option for those helping to contribute to the cause.
Please contact Tricia Torosian at [email protected] or Lisa Daly at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange for drop off, or for help with making a donation through Venmo.
Crawford expressed her gratitude to the Lynfield community for its unwavering support.
“None of this would be possible if not for the generosity and support of our community,” Crawford said. “A very big thanks to all who have and continue to support the Ladies of Lynnfield.”
The Pope Richard house is located at 35 South Common St. adjacent to the Town Common.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
