This Christmas outreach tradition began at St. Mary’s in 1988 as a way to support the poor parishioners of two inner city parishes, St. Patrick’s and St. Mary of the Angels in Roxbury. Originally coordinated by Sr. M. Ricci, this effort involves collecting donated Christmas gifts at all Masses on one weekend (usually the 2nd weekend before Christmas). The types of items needed are advertised in the St. Mary’s bulletin starting in November, and include everything from toys to sneakers and clothing appropriate to different ages. Volunteers are always needed from 12:30 PM to around 2 PM on Give A Gift Sunday to sort and load up the donated Christmas gifts. Additional volunteers then drive the gifts to their destination parishes in Boston. The people of St. Mary’s have always generously supported Give A Gift, and over a thousand gifts are received every year.
How To Help:
The most important way to assist Give A Gift is to bring a gift to Mass on the appropriate weekend. Because the gifts go straight into Boston on Sunday afternoon, late gifts cannot be included.
Contact:
To volunteer to help organize the Give A Gift Project, to sort gifts, to be a gift delivery driver, or for more information, please call Mr. Tony Polise at 508-429-5083.
Prov. 28:27 “If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied!”