The 15th Annual Eastie’s Elves fundraiser, a yearly tradition that draws more than 500 people to the Christmas toy drive, will kick off Friday, Dec. 6 at the Hyatt Boston Harbor at 6 p.m. The price of admission is one unwrapped toy that will be donated to a local non-profit agency.
Rep. Adrian Madaro took over the reigns of the annual holiday event from former Sen. Anthony Petruccelli after Petruccelli left office.
Madaro said he and his family are looking forward to another successful Eastie’s Elves on Friday and expect many from the community to help support this important fundraiser again this year.
“Each year since the Madaro Family Community Fund took over the event, my family and I are truly overwhelmed by the generosity of the community,” said Madaro. “The moment I look forward to the most during the event is walking into that room where we keep toys. Towards the end of the night I usually peak in and when I see those toys piled up I just know that hundreds of kids and families in our area are are going to have a good Christmas.”
Madaro said keeping this tradition alive once Sen. Petruccelli left office was a no brainer.
“We formed the and really didn’t change anything to the overall event,” he said. “ All the toys that are donated will still benefit the communities of East Boston, Revere, Winthrop and the North End.”
The annual fundraiser to raise toys for low-income families in Eastie and other neighborhoods was started by Petruccelli when he served in the House and continued through his years in the Senate.
After being elected to office in 2015 Madaro’s Family Community Fund took over the annual event.
Over the years Eastie’s Elves have collected thousands of toys that are later dropped off to agencies like the East Boston Social Centers, the YMCA, Crossroads Family Shelter, and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club.
Madaro said this event has always had two major objectives. The first and most obvious is being able to gather as many toys as the event possibly can for families and children that are in need during the holiday season. The second, said Madaro, is to bring together the Eastie community to celebrate the holiday season with one another.
“For me this event represents the true spirit of the holiday season,” said Madaro. “It’s a time for giving and a time to help one another. I’m so proud of this community year after year when it comes together and supports a cause that has a tremendous impact on hundreds of local families and children.”
Like years past there will be singing of carols by the East Boston Central Catholic Choir, a holiday meal with all the trimmings and the satisfaction of knowing you are helping put a smile on the faces of local children.
There will also be the annual Eastie Elf Award presented to one of the community’s unsung heroes.
Last year Eastie’s Elves were able to collect over a thousand toys for families and over $2,500 that was used to buy gift certificates at Shaw’s Supermarket so families wouldn’t go hungry during the Holiday Season. In years past, items like bicycles, toy trucks, remote control cars and plenty of clothing item shows the generosity of residents.