Five Things

Five Things to Know Today, Dec. 22

There's precious little sunlight today, so make the most of it.

Today is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. How short? There’s a scant 10 hours and eight minutes of visible sunlight expected, so leave the sunglasses at home. Toys for Tots needs your help: Due to incredible demand, the annual charity drive needs another 15,000 toys to meet all the requests received this year. You can help by bringing an unused, unwrapped gift to the Engine 4 fire station at 200 Cambridge Street. Today is the last day of the extended drive, so hustle down to the station and help a child in need. There’s still time to enter a holiday shopping tip to our weekly contest. Add the best deal you’ve found and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to the South End Buttery. Looking for a family-…

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Toys For Tots Is 15,000 Toys Short, But You Can Still Donate

The charity will accept toys up until the close of the business day on Thursday.

According to a recent Boston Globe report, Toys For Tots is both overwhelmed by the amount of toys it has received and by the need this year.  The article quotes Toys For Tots spokesman Marine Corporal Vin Dolan as saying, "Toys for Tots received requests from 350 Boston-area organizations this year, compared with 290 last year.  And, per writer Amanda Cedrone, "two weeks ago, before the entreaty to the public, the Boston office of Toys for Tots still needed about 50,000 toys. As of today, [12/19/11] Dolan estimates that only about 15,000 more toys are needed." Want to give?  Most drop-off spots have already brought their gifts to Toys For Tots, but fire stations are still pitching in.  Donors can bring a new, unwrapped toy to Engine 4, …

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Five Things

Five Things to Know Today, Dec. 16

40 Temple St. project goes before city board; Mike Ross works to help end homelessness; Toys for Tots running low on donations; win $100,000 for Boston schools; and a cold and windy day.

1. The Beacon Hill Architectural Commission voted Thursday to deny, without prejudice, a request by the owner of 40 Temple St. to create an opening in the side of her building and put a door there for wheelchair accessibility. See Beacon Hill Patch this afternoon for the full story.  2. City Councilor Mike Ross teamed up with Santa at the Prudential Center to help inform shoppers about Heading Home, a Cambridge-based nonprofit whose mission is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by providing a supported pathway to self-sufficiency. Since July 1, Heading Home has moved more than 70 families out of hotels into permanent housing. Ross was at the kiosk where shoppers can take a “wish list” of presents for a homeless family or make a donation…

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