The Village Bank is once again partnering with the city for its annual Holiday Gift Drive, with the goal of brightening the upcoming holidays for deserving Newton families.

Donations of gift certificates and new, unwrapped gifts for children ages newborn to 10 will be accepted from November 19th through December 14th. More details here:

Collection points
The Village Bank’s Newton branches in Auburndale, Newtonville, Nonantum, Newton Highlands, Waban and West Newton will serve as Holiday Gift Drive collection sites. The bank is also proud that many local schools, businesses and sports teams are serving as drop-off points. These include Bowen School, Williams School, Franklin School, Newton Health Care Center, Curaspan, Newton North High School’s Future Business Leaders of America Club, and its Girls and Boys Hockey Teams, and Newton Youth Hockey. The drive could not be as successful without these wonderful community partners.

Suggested gifts include age-appropriate books, CDs, movies, clothing, sporting goods and toys. The donation of gift certificates from local merchants, purchased to help local families in need, will also benefit businesses in the community.

Last year’s Holiday Gift Drive benefited over 200 local families, according to the City’s community social worker, Meghan Kennedy. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, every income-eligible family who applied was provided with age- and gender-appropriate gifts, including toys and food and merchandise gift cards from local stores.

Increased need
This will be the sixth consecutive year that The Village Bank has partnered with the City to collect gifts for deserving local children. It is anticipated that the need will be higher than ever this year.