FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2016
‘Tis The Season To Give
ABCD Launches “Winter Emergency Campaign”
New Winter Clothing & Toys, Comforters/Blankets, Non Perishable Foods,
Heating Assistance and Monetary Contributions – Accepted For Families in Need
Families, Organizations, Corporations, & Individuals Encouraged to Give
Winter can be a crisis for many low-income families. The escalating cost of living along with the bitter cold weather of New England weighs heavy on households struggling to meet basic needs of food, shelter, heat, and warm clothing. Action for Boston Community Development launches its Winter Emergency Campaign to ensure that families can stay safe and warm as the bitter cold hits the region and the holiday season commences. Over the last two years ABCD has seen a 66 % increase in the use of its food pantries, this underlines the fact that there are so many families in need.
“Many people who never had to ask for help before are turning to ABCD. Unemployment, underemployment or disabilities make it impossible for too many families to handle basic needs and a harsh winter through the holiday season only adds to their struggles,” said John Drew, President/CEO of ABCD. “For these poor families it is a time of crisis. We are asking you to help out this holiday season. Whatever you can give will help a family stay warm and safe at their home, and could also put a smile on a child’s face.”
Thanks to gracious donations, last year the Winter Emergency Campaign raised over $200,000 which went towards heat and food assistance. Over 1,000 holiday dinners were served to hungry families. Through organized drives – bundles of coats, comforters, shoes and winter clothing for children were distributed, and over 6,000 toys brought holiday cheer to children in need.
ABCD’s Adopt-A-Family/Adopt-A-Classroom is another initiative to create holiday cheer as anonymous donors are matched with households or ABCD Head Start classrooms in need, and are given a “wish list” to fulfill.
“We’ve donated warm winter clothing – hats, coats, boots, and gloves to ABCD. No one wants to see anyone cold during the winter. These items aren’t going to sit in inventory. They will be on the street by next week and a child will be wearing a coat that they didn’t have otherwise,” said Winter Emergency Campaign donor Paul Leyden of RBC Wealth Management. “There is the ability to help and know someone will be warmer and thankful.”
Every donation will make a difference.
Families in need will be connected with resources to support long-term stability and economic progress. The Winter Emergency Campaign will provide heating assistance, food, warm winter clothing, and holiday toys to Boston and the Mystic Valley area’s neediest households, impacting tens of thousands of low-income and poverty-stricken families at risk of serious health problems or housing loss this winter.
Heating Assistance
ABCD also offers qualifying families a comprehensive range of services to keep families warm including repair and replacement of inoperable or highly inefficient heading systems, utility discounts, weatherization, programs to improve energy conservation, and much more.
ABCD is grateful for any private donations to the fuel assistance program or Winter Emergency Campaign. Your generous gift can save a household from hypothermia, stop a family from turning to dangerous heating substitutes, prevent sickness, and dramatically improve quality of life. If you’d like to donate to ABCD’s Winter Emergency Campaign, please call 617-348-6559 or visit bostonabcd.org/give.
How can people help?
Make a financial donation; give gifts of new winter clothing (boots, gloves, scarves, hats); new comforters and blankets; non-perishable foods and holiday toys; volunteer or host a holiday party on behalf of ABCD. Donations are now being accepted at any ABCD neighborhood site and at the main office located at 178 Tremont Street, Downtown Boston.
To learn more about ABCD’s Winter Emergency Campaign and the ABCD GiveLine, or to organize a clothing and toy drive, and participate in the Adopt-A-Family/Adopt-A-Classroom Initiative, visit us at BostonABCD.org, call (617)348-6559, or email give@bostonabcd.org.
Donations can also be made by mail, addressed to:
Winter Emergency Fund
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
178 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
About ABCD:
A Massachusetts-based nonprofit human services organization, ABCD provides low-income residents in the Boston and Mystic Valley areas with the tools, support and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success. Each year, we’ve served more than 100,000 individuals, elders and families through a broad range of innovative initiatives as well as long-established, proven programs and services. For more than 50 years, ABCD has been deeply rooted in every neighborhood and community served, empowering individuals and families and supporting them in their quest to live with dignity and achieve their highest potential. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.