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BWH's Bob Donaghue organized this year's Toys for Tots collection and "Welcome Winter" food drive.
Security and Parking Operations Manager Bob Donaghue is already looking forward to next year's toy and food drives at BWH.
The generosity of BWHers and visitors made this year's Toys for Tots collection-held for the second year in a row at BWH-a huge success. Additionally, BWH's first-ever "Welcome Winter" food drive generated a sleigh-full of food items, from dry pasta to canned soup and peanut butter, for the Parker Hill/Fenway ABCD Emergency Food Pantry in Mission Hill.
To mark the start of the food drive, BWHers volunteered at a Dec. 10 "Welcome Winter" kick-off event in the 75 Francis St. lobby. Some staff dressed as snow angels while others wore polar bear outfits, as they danced around in an effort to get people excited about giving back.
Donaghue, who has worked at BWH since 1991, said he was struck by the generosity of those who contributed to the cause, as well as Toys for Tots.
"A lot of people responded," he said. "One man handed me a $100 bill as I was waving around a box of pasta. People just walked up to me and showed so much kindness."
More than 1,000 food items, as well as $251 in cash, were collected for the pantry during the event. Collection boxes for donated goods were placed at various locations throughout BWH in December. Additionally, about 500 toys were donated for Toys for Tots during its four-hour collection time on Dec. 17.
Based on the food drive's initial success, Donaghue hopes it will become an annual event. Thanks to a group of anonymous donors, a red and white sleigh was used to hold both food and toy donations in the lobby. Donaghue said this special gift will be used at future BWH community service gatherings. "The sleigh was the centerpiece of both events," he said.
Donaghue thanked volunteers for their time and added how good it felt to see so many people come forward to make the drives a success.
"It took lots of folks from different departments to make this work," he said. "It was a great example of people working together to benefit others."