Marge Crispin Center to Support 200 Families This Holiday Season

More than 200 Braintree families have applied to the Marge Crispin Center for assistance so far this holiday season.

They, along with the few dozen more likely to sign-up, will receive food for Thanksgiving and both food and children's presents for Christmas.

It is an annual support system that takes an entire community's hard work to accomplish, said Ann Toland, director of the Pond Street social services center. Each year an average of 240 families are served, including approximately 260 children, all Braintree residents.

"We are in full swing getting ready for the holidays," Toland told the Town Council Tuesday night.

Clients are referred to Marge Crispin by schools, churches, social service agencies and the Department of Elder Affairs. The center is a member of the Greater Boston Food Bank and picks up 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of food there every Wednesday.

Donations also come from local merchants, schools and town workers, such as the Braintree councilors who brought canned goods and other donations to Town Hall Tuesday night.

"The amount of generosity in this community is incredible," Toland said.

The Thanksgiving distribution will be Nov. 25 this year. On Dec. 20 families will receive their Christmas distribution of food and presents for their children. Younger kids get six to eight presents and older kids gift cards, Toland said.

"It's just amazing how much work goes on over there," Council President Charles Kokoros said.

See more information about the center by clicking here, or contact by mail or phone:

THE MARGE CRISPIN SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER 
74 Pond Street - Bldg #2 
Braintree, MA 02184

Tel: (781) 848-2124 
Fax: (781) 380-4164