This article originally appeared in the Framingham Source on May 6, 2020

“We are always here to provide critical support to families in need, but we also want to give children something to smile about during an extremely stressful time,” said Paul Mina, President & CEO at the United Way of Tri-County. “In times when there is so much bad news, it feels good to do something that simply brings joy to a child.”

A tractor-trailer packed with 52 pallets, all stacked with brand new LEGOs, sports balls, stuffed animals, toy trucks, board games, activity books, and more arrived at the United Way’s Downtown Framingham warehouse early Monday afternoon.

Staff spent hours sorting items by age range and preparing for agency distribution on May 5 and again on May 7. The Framingham warehouse space on Blandin Ave. used to store and sort the toys was generously donated by the Stonegate Group of Natick.

In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and adhere to the statewide ban on large gatherings, the United Way of Tri-County asked that agencies arrive at their warehouse to collect the games and toys, and urged social distancing and the use of masks.

In turn, agencies are distributing the donated items to qualifying families following the same safety guidelines.

The United Way of Tri-County is known for giving presents away during their Hope for the Holidays program each December, but recently secured the truckload of toys through their ongoing relationship with Good360 to help ease children’s anxiety during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are tremendously grateful that the United Way of Tri-County had the foresight to pull together these donations of toys.  We appreciate the opportunity to provide moments of levity and joy to the youth and families we serve during the health crisis,” said Nick Kane, Development Manager, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network.

We are tremendously grateful that the United Way of Tri-County had the foresight to pull together these donations of toys.  We appreciate the opportunity to provide moments of levity and joy to the youth and families we serve during the health crisis,” – Nick Kane, Development Manager, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network.

Steve Zepf, Director of Operations at the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest said, “Any support we can provide for our members and families during this uncertain time is our goal.  It’s particularly important for our economically disadvantaged members to have access to new activities and games to keep them busy during this difficult time.”

If you would like to support the United Way of Tri-County’s COVID-19 emergency response fund, please visit their website at www.uwotc.org/covid

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