GREENFIELD — Just in time for the holiday season, a new toy donation container has been set up inside the Greenfield Civic Center as part of the annual winter coat drive.
“I realized there are a lot of children whose parents can’t afford to buy them gifts at Christmas time, so I wanted to help them out,” said Greenfield Mayor Pro-Tem Avelina Torres, who decided to add toys to this year’s donation drive.
Torres started the winter coat drive last year with the help of the Greenfield Community Science Workshop, which built the train-themed donation bin as well as the new gift box container for toys.
About 75 coats were donated from the community last year.
“Hopefully we’ll do even better this year,” Torres said.
The community may drop off new or gently used coats, sweaters and hats as well as new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages inside the bins at the Greenfield Civic Center, 599 El Camino Real, during City Hall’s regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Donations will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 19.
All the clothes will be donated to local homeless shelters and victims of domestic violence, and the toys will be distributed to youth in the area.
“Let’s not forget those who are less fortunate this time of year,” Torres said.
