The Giving Back Together Toy Drive is gearing up for its 11th year and founder Heather Taylor said the charitable effort is extremely low on gifts to give to youngsters up to 18 years of age.

The Athol resident started the toy drive to ensure no child goes without a present on Christmas and she relies on donations to buy brand-new items. In 2023, the toy drive served 915 children, and early registration indicates that number will be exceeded this year.

“It seems like every single year it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, so at this point it’s kind of anticipated that the need would get bigger,” Taylor said. “The community does always seem to pull through.”

This cause is personal for Taylor, who grew up in a household in Spencer with parents who struggled with addiction and didn’t buy Christmas presents for their children, forcing Taylor to explain to her brother and sister why Santa Claus didn’t come.

All gifts and money are used to make sure no child wakes up to zero presents on Christmas morning. A list of area businesses that accept donations — and days and times for drop-offs — for the toy drive can be found on the drive’s Facebook page, facebook.com/GivingBackTogether.

Cash is accepted and checks should be made payable to Giving Back Together and mailed to: bankHometown, 90 Exchange St., Athol, MA 01331.

Taylor has held fundraising events all year. A boot drive to collect monetary or gift card donations is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Federal streets in Greenfield on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Shelburne Police Department and Massachusetts State Police will also be hosting a “Stuff the Cruiser” event in partnership with the Giving Back Together Toy Drive on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Bridge Street and Deerfield Avenue in Shelburne Falls.

Any parent — including foster parents — in need of support can register to receive toys for their family. Identification and the children’s birth certificates or state Department of Transitional Assistance verification is required.

Taylor said she is also in need of volunteers and anyone who is interested in helping can send an email to givingbacktogether@yahoo.com.

“We’re a very small crew of moms and women in the community who are doing this,” Taylor said.

More information is available at linktr.ee/givingbacktogether.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.