Phillips Brooks House to launch holiday gift drive

Phillips Brooks House (PBH) will launch its annual holiday gift drive on Dec. 1. Organizers hope to collect over 1,000 gifts for children in Boston and Cambridge, many of whose parents are impoverished, homeless, or incarcerated.

The event was started several years ago by a PBH staff person and has since become an annual tradition. Last year’s drive generated more than 1,000 gifts, including books, games, toys, art supplies, and sports equipment. These gifts, donated by members of the Harvard community, were given to 10 agencies in Greater Boston.

This year, the gift drive will benefit Charlotte House in Dorchester, Houston House in Roxbury, the Jackson-Mann Community Center and the Gardner Elementary School in Allston, the Allston Brighton YMCA in Brighton, the Boston Public Schools Family Resource Center, ABCD of Boston, the Cambridge Multi-Service Center, the Cambridge Community Center, and the YWCA of Cambridge.

Faculty and staff are invited to donate new, unwrapped gifts for children in preschool through middle school. Collection boxes will be located at some undergraduate houses, PBH, the Memorial Church, and other locations throughout campus.

Those wishing to set up collection centers can contact Judy Kokesh at (617) 495-3756 or (jkokesh@fas.harvard.edu). Gifts may also be brought to PBH (located in the northwest corner of Harvard Yard). The gift drive ends Dec. 17.