Where to Give North of Boston 2026
This guide lists where to give toys, coats, food and volunteer time in Boston and the towns north of it, with what each group asks for and the date it stops taking gifts. The dates that matter most: Rosie's Place wants gifts by December 11, USPS Operation Santa letters can be adopted until December 12, and Thanksgiving volunteer shifts fall on November 24 and 26. Pantry rows cover only the towns named, not every town north of Boston.
- USPS Operation Santa letter adoption opens
- Lowell Thanksgiving food distribution volunteer shift
- Giving Tuesday: Greater Boston Food Bank match
- Rosie's Place gift drive deadline
- Last day to adopt and ship Operation Santa gifts
Rows marked Not yet posted mean the organisation's own page loads but has no 2026 detail for that item yet, so the link goes to the page to check. Pantry hours and needs change often, and several places close for Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving.
Toy and gift drives
Most toy drives want new, unwrapped toys. Check each page for a drop-off site near you before you go.
| Organisation | Where | What they need | Deadline/hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Toys for Tots, Greater Boston | Norfolk and Suffolk counties | New, unwrapped toys; drop-off sites and hours Not yet posted | Not yet posted. The 2026 campaign page asks donors not to assume last year's sites still apply | Toys for Tots Greater Boston |
| Marine Toys for Tots, Middlesex and Essex | Middlesex and Essex counties, including the towns north of Boston | New, unwrapped toys collected October through December; local contacts on the Contact page | Collection runs October to December; site list Not yet posted | Toys for Tots Middlesex and Essex |
| Salvation Army Angel Tree (Walmart and Sam's Club) | Participating Walmart and Sam's Club stores, or online through Walmart's Spark Good Registry | New clothing and toys for a child's Angel tag; shipped gifts go to your local Salvation Army | Walmart collection bins open Nov 15 | Salvation Army Angel Tree |
| Salvation Army Massachusetts Division | Local corps across Massachusetts | Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance for residents; contact your local corps to give | Local corps sign-ups and drop-offs vary by corps | Salvation Army Massachusetts |
| USPS Operation Santa | Online adoption; ship from home or a participating Post Office | Adopt a child's or family's letter to Santa and send a gift | Adoption opens Nov 16; adopt and ship by Dec 12 | USPS Operation Santa |
| Globe Santa | Online, by phone at 617-929-2007 or by mail to the Boston Globe Foundation | Cash gifts fund books and toys for children 12 years old or younger | Online giving open; family applications closed Oct 30 | Globe Santa |
| Somerville city toy boxes | City buildings, libraries and firehouses in Somerville | New, unwrapped toys and teen gifts | 2026 dates Not yet posted. Boxes were out Dec 3 to Dec 18 in 2024 | City of Somerville |
Coats, winter wear and gifts for shelters
New items are the rule at most of these. Cradles to Crayons is the exception and takes gently used coats too.
| Organisation | Where | What they need | Deadline/hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie's Place gift drive | 889 Harrison Ave., Boston (schedule a drop-off) | $25 gift cards, hat, glove and scarf sets, fuzzy winter socks | Deliver by Dec 11, 2026 | Rosie's Place holiday ways to give |
| Rosie's Place wish list | 889 Harrison Ave., Boston | Toiletries, new socks and underwear, books, $25 gift cards; no food, clothing or children's items | Ongoing; register your donation to schedule a drop-off, or email [email protected] with questions | Rosie's Place wishlist |
| Pine Street Inn | 444 Harrison Ave., Boston; call 617.892.9184 to arrange a drop-off | New winter hats, gloves, hand warmers, socks, underwear, towels, sheet sets | Ongoing; new and unused items only | Pine Street Inn donate goods |
| Cradles to Crayons, Gear Up for Winter | More than 70 drop-off locations across Massachusetts | New or gently used children's coats; goal is 50,000 coats | No end date posted | Cradles to Crayons Gear Up for Winter |
| Cradles to Crayons, Amazon wish list | Ships to the Giving Factory | Monthly list of essentials; children's clothing drop-offs also accepted | Ongoing | Cradles to Crayons donate goods |
| Coat Boston and The Holiday ShopPassed | 1912 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington (Hancock Church) | New coats, hats, mittens, gloves, toys, books, gift cards | Drop-offs closed Nov 8; Tue to Fri, 10 am to 3 pm until then | Coat Boston donate |
Rosie's Place accepts food only through its Virtual Food Drive, and Pine Street Inn does not take used clothing.
Food banks and big food drives
Regional food banks and the Salvation Army take money, and some also take food or volunteers.
| Organisation | Where | What they need | Deadline/hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Boston Food Bank, Hunger Free Holidays | 70 South Bay Ave., Boston; give online | Gifts matched dollar for dollar up to $750,000 from the board; $54.87 funds holiday meals for three families | Giving Tuesday is Dec 1 | GBFB Hunger Free Holidays |
| Salvation Army Massachusetts, Virtual Red Kettle | Online | $50 helps 20 families have food this Christmas; $33 gives a night of shelter | Open through the holidays | Salvation Army Virtual Red Kettle |
| Merrimack Valley Food Bank | 1703 Middlesex St., Lowell; 978-454-7272 | Donations and volunteers; pantry map and schedule on the site | Hours Not yet posted | Merrimack Valley Food Bank |
| Food For Free | 59 Inner Belt Rd., Somerville | Cash gifts by card or check; volunteer sign-up for individuals and groups | Ongoing | Food For Free donate |
| Neighbors In Need | Greater Lawrence; closed Nov 11 for Veterans Day | Unopened, unexpired non-perishable food and diapers; Thanksgiving and holiday meal support for 2,500 families | Pantry hours on the Get Help page | Neighbors In Need |
Town pantries and what they need
Pantries in the towns named below, each from the organiser's own page, with drop-off hours and current needs where they are posted. Towns not named here are not listed.
| Pantry (town) | Where | What they need | Deadline/hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bread of Life (Malden, Everett) | 54 Eastern Ave., Malden; small donations at the entrance off the Ferry St. lot, carloads at the loading dock | Produce, meat, cereal, rice, snacks, diapers, laundry detergent, supermarket gift cards | Drop-off Mon to Fri, 9 am to 4 pm; closed federal holidays | Bread of Life donate |
| St. Raphael Food Pantry (Medford) | 38 Boston Ave., Medford; Medford residents only | Groceries; parish drop-off the first weekend of each month | Pantry open Tuesdays, 9 am to noon | St. Raphael parish food pantry |
| Medford food resources | City list of pantries and markets in Medford | Each pantry sets its own needs | Holiday drives Not yet posted | City of Medford food resources |
| Wakefield Food Pantry (Wakefield) | Americal Civic Center, 467 Main St., Wakefield; 781-245-2510 | Food and household necessities; most-needed list on the site | Open Tue and Thu, 9 am to 1 pm; Thu, 6:30 to 7:30 pm | Wakefield Food Pantry |
| First Church Stoneham Food Pantry (Stoneham) | 1 Church St., Stoneham; 781-438-0097 | Donation and volunteer instructions on the church's food pantry page | Not yet posted | First Church Stoneham outreach |
| A Servant's Heart Food Pantry (Melrose) | Faith Evangelical Church, 200 Franklin St., Melrose; 781-662-8226 | Unexpired non-perishable food such as soups, pasta and sauce, cereal, tuna, peanut butter and jelly, plus paper goods and hygiene items | Drop off most weekdays; call to arrange a time. Pantry Fridays, 9:30 to 10:30 am | A Servant's Heart Food Pantry |
| Saugus United Parish Food Pantry (Saugus) | Cliftondale Congregational Church, 50 Essex St., Saugus; (781) 233-2663 | Non-perishable food at least one month from expiration, grocery store gift cards, checks to Saugus United Parish Food Pantry; Thanksgiving meal baskets each November | Pantry Fridays, 9:30 to 11 am, except Fridays before a major holiday; sorting volunteers Fridays, 8:30 to 11:30 am | Cliftondale Congregational Church food pantry |
| Council of Social Concern Food Pantry (Woburn) | 2 Merrimac St., Woburn; 781-935-6495; serves Woburn and Winchester residents | All non-perishable food within date, reusable grocery bags, Amazon wish list; checks to Council of Social Concern with Food Pantry in the memo | Drop-off Mon to Fri, 9 am to 4:30 pm; pantry by appointment Tue and Thu, 9:30 to 11:30 am and 1:30 to 3 pm, Wed 6 to 7 pm | Council of Social Concern Food Pantry Program |
| Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House Food Pantry (Cambridge) | 71 Cherry St., Cambridge; (617) 547-4680 | Unopened, non-expired food such as spices, coffee and tea, flour and sugar, laundry and dish detergent, canned soup and pasta sauce; schedule a donation on the site | Pantry Wed 4 to 6:30 pm, Thu 2 to 5 pm, Fri 9 am to noon, Sat 10 am to 1 pm; holiday food distribution volunteer slots Nov 1 to 21 | Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House food pantry |
| Reading Food Pantry (Reading) | 6 Salem St., Reading; 781-944-8486 | Unopened, unexpired items; current needs: laundry detergent, paper towels, jelly or jam, canned salmon, flavored instant oatmeal; bins at Stop & Shop and Market Basket | Donations Wednesdays from 4:30 pm at the rear of the building; pantry hours Mon 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Fri 10:30 to 11:30 am | Reading Food Pantry |
| Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry (Lexington) | Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam St.; bin at Stop & Shop, 36 Bedford St. | Non-perishable food and cash gifts | Open Saturday mornings; church bin closed in winter | Lexington Food Pantry |
| People Helping People (Burlington) | 21 Murray Ave., Burlington; 781-270-6625 | Unexpired non-perishable food in bins; Venmo and online gifts | Donation center open daily, 6 am to 7 pm; pantry for registered clients Tue, Wed, Thu; closed federal holidays | People Helping People Burlington |
| Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger (Peabody) | 71 Wallis St., Peabody; 978-531-9775 | Donations and volunteers; holiday needs Not yet posted | Pantry Mon, Tue, Fri 10:30 am to 2:30 pm; Thu 12:30 to 2:30 and 6 to 7 pm | Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger |
| The Salem Pantry (Salem) | 220 Highland Ave., Salem | Donations and volunteers; closed Nov 11 | The Market open Tue to Sat | The Salem Pantry |
| Beverly Bootstraps (Beverly) | Food drop-off: 35 Park St., Beverly. Thrift shop donations: 198 Rantoul St., Beverly | Non-perishable food at 35 Park St.; clothing and household goods at the thrift shop; Winter Wishes holiday gift program for children | Food drop-off Mon to Thu, 10 am to 5 pm, Fri 10 am to 3 pm; thrift shop donations Mon to Sat, 10 am to 4 pm | Beverly Bootstraps food donations |
| Marblehead Food Pantry (Marblehead) | Drop-off at the Masonic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St. | Non-perishable food, paper goods, toiletries; Amazon wish list | Drop-off Tuesdays, 9 to 11 am; closed Nov 24 and Nov 26 | Marblehead Food Pantry |
| Catholic Charities Lynn Food Pantry (Lynn) | 8 Silsbee St., Lynn; 617-451-7999 | Families can call about holiday food packages; donation needs Not yet posted | Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am to noon and 1 to 3 pm; Tue 1 to 3 pm; Thu 9 am to noon (65+ limited mobility only); closed third Friday | Catholic Charities food pantries |
| Salvation Army Lynn Corps (Lynn) | 1 Franklin St., Lynn; (781) 598-0673 | Food pantry open to all; clients may visit twice per month; donation needs Not yet posted | Pantry Tue, Wed, Fri, 9 to 11:30 am | Salvation Army Lynn |
| Village Food Hub (Andover) | 23 Clark Road, Andover; 978-566-3287 | Donations, volunteers, Thanksgiving meal registration button on the home page | Not yet posted | Village Food Hub |
Volunteer shifts
Many shifts need pre-registration. Check age rules, since several sites ask volunteers to be 18 or older.
| Organisation | Where | What you would do | Deadline/hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Boston, Lowell Thanksgiving distribution | 70 Lawrence St., Lowell | Help at the Thanksgiving food distribution; sign up online | Tue, Nov 24; shift 1:00 to 2:30 pm | Catholic Charities Lowell Thanksgiving |
| Bread of Life, Thanksgiving dinner | Malden High School cafeteria, Malden (enter via Ferry St.); turkey pickup at 54 Eastern Ave., Malden | Meal delivery and dish washing shifts open on Thanksgiving Day; other shifts full. Frozen turkey pickup Mon, Nov 23, 1 to 5 pm; cooked turkey drop-off Wed, Nov 25, 4 to 6:30 pm | Thu, Nov 26; sign up on the Thanksgiving page | Bread of Life Thanksgiving 2026 |
| Bread of Life, drop-in shifts | 54 Eastern Ave., Malden | Grocery delivery, packing, pantry stocking; minimum age 13 without an adult; groups of 5 or more schedule ahead | Drop-in Mon to Fri, 12 to 5 pm; Wed from 9:30 am | Bread of Life volunteer |
| Pine Street Inn, INN the Holiday Spirit | Boston and remote | Assemble holiday kits: warmth, sweat sets, comfort cups, cleaning kits | Dates Not yet posted. In-person volunteers 18 and older | Pine Street Inn volunteer |
| Pine Street Inn, meal service | 444 Harrison Ave., Boston | Sandwich prep, brunch, Yawkey House dinner service; group dinner and kitchen shifts | Sign up on the volunteer page | Pine Street Inn volunteer |
| Rosie's Place | 889 Harrison Ave., Boston | Serve meals, work the pantry; groups can cater a dining room meal for a $500 donation | Sign up in VolunteerNet; shifts are posted 30 days ahead | Rosie's Place volunteer |
| Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory | Giving Factory, Newton; pre-register in the volunteer portal | Sort and package clothing; ages 5 and up, children with an adult | Wed and Thu 10 am to noon, 1 to 3 pm; Fri 10 am to noon; Sat 10 am to noon, 1 to 3 pm | Cradles to Crayons volunteer |
| Greater Boston Food Bank | 70 South Bay Ave., Boston | Sort and pack food; sign up through the volunteer page | Mon to Fri 9 am to noon, 1 to 4 pm; Sat 9 am to noon, 1 to 3:30 pm; Saturday shifts booked through the end of the year | GBFB volunteer |
| Salvation Army Massachusetts, bell ringers | Kettle sites across Massachusetts | Ring a Red Kettle bell; the page lists an online form | Dates and sites Not yet posted | Salvation Army Massachusetts volunteer |
| Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger | 71 Wallis St., Peabody | Pantry and community meal volunteers; meals Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 4:30 to 5:30 pm | Holiday shifts Not yet posted | Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger |
| Boston Cares | Boston-area schools and nonprofits | Volunteer listings with sign-up for individuals, groups and companies | Shifts are posted on its volunteer calendar | Boston Cares |
Common questions
Can I drop off food at Rosie's Place?
Only through a Virtual Food Drive. Rosie's Place says it can accept food items only that way, and its wish list asks for toiletries, socks, books and gift cards instead.
Does Pine Street Inn take used coats?
No. Its donation page asks for new and unused items and lists used clothing among the things it cannot accept. Cradles to Crayons takes new or gently used children's coats.
What kind of toys do Toys for Tots campaigns collect?
New, unwrapped toys, collected during October, November and December. Drop-off sites are listed on each local campaign's website.
Which gift deadline is first?
Coat Boston's drop-offs closed on November 8. The next are Rosie's Place on December 11 and USPS Operation Santa on December 12.
Sources
Every entry above links to the page it was read from. Each page was checked on November 10, 2026.
- Toys for Tots Greater Bostonboston-ma.toysfortots.org · checked Nov 10
- Toys for Tots Middlesex and Essexdevens-ma.toysfortots.org · checked Nov 10
- Salvation Army Angel Treesalvationarmyusa.org · checked Nov 10
- Salvation Army Massachusettseasternusa.salvationarmy.org · checked Nov 10
- USPS Operation Santauspsoperationsanta.com · checked Nov 10
- Globe Santaglobesanta.org · checked Nov 10
- City of Somervillesomervillema.gov · checked Nov 10
- Rosie's Place holiday ways to giverosiesplace.org · checked Nov 10
- Rosie's Place wishlistrosiesplace.org · checked Nov 10
- Pine Street Inn donate goodspinestreetinn.org · checked Nov 10
- Cradles to Crayons Gear Up for Wintercradlestocrayons.org · checked Nov 10
- Cradles to Crayons donate goodscradlestocrayons.org · checked Nov 10
- Coat Boston donatecoatboston.org · checked Nov 10
- GBFB Hunger Free Holidaysgbfb.org · checked Nov 10
- Salvation Army Virtual Red Kettlegive.salvationarmy.org · checked Nov 10
- Merrimack Valley Food Bankmvfb.org · checked Nov 10
- Food For Free donatefoodforfree.org · checked Nov 10
- Neighbors In Needneedfood.org · checked Nov 10
- Bread of Life donatebreadoflifemalden.org · checked Nov 10
- St. Raphael parish food pantrysaintraphaelparish.org · checked Nov 10
- City of Medford food resourcesmedfordma.org · checked Nov 10
- Wakefield Food Pantrywakefieldfoodpantry.org · checked Nov 10
- First Church Stoneham outreachfirstchurchstoneham.org · checked Nov 10
- A Servant's Heart Food Pantryfaithchurchac.org · checked Nov 10
- Cliftondale Congregational Church food pantrycliftondalecc.org · checked Nov 10
- Council of Social Concern Food Pantry Programsocialconcern.org · checked Nov 10
- Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House food pantrymargaretfullerhouse.org · checked Nov 10
- Reading Food Pantryreadingfoodpantry.org · checked Nov 10
- Lexington Food Pantrylexingtonfoodpantry.org · checked Nov 10
- People Helping People Burlingtonpeoplehelpingpeopleinc.org · checked Nov 10
- Citizens Inn Haven from Hungercitizensinn.org · checked Nov 10
- The Salem Pantrythesalempantry.org · checked Nov 10
- Beverly Bootstraps food donationsbeverlybootstraps.org · checked Nov 10
- Marblehead Food Pantrymarbleheadfoodpantry.org · checked Nov 10
- Catholic Charities food pantriesccab.org · checked Nov 10
- Salvation Army Lynneasternusa.salvationarmy.org · checked Nov 10
- Village Food Hubvillagefoodhub.org · checked Nov 10
- Catholic Charities Lowell Thanksgivingccab.org · checked Nov 10
- Bread of Life Thanksgiving 2026breadoflifemalden.org · checked Nov 10
- Bread of Life volunteerbreadoflifemalden.org · checked Nov 10
- Pine Street Inn volunteerpinestreetinn.org · checked Nov 10
- Rosie's Place volunteerrosiesplace.org · checked Nov 10
- Cradles to Crayons volunteercradlestocrayons.org · checked Nov 10
- GBFB volunteergbfb.org · checked Nov 10
- Salvation Army Massachusetts volunteereasternusa.salvationarmy.org · checked Nov 10
- Boston Caresbostoncares.org · checked Nov 10