Local Businesses Make Big Wishes Come True For Toy Drive
Monday, December 17, 2007

Thousands of toys collected for Boston's oldest and largest child welfare agency

BOSTON — During a season when community toy drives were worried about the impact of the economy and the China toy safety scare, two local businesses were committed to making the holidays brighter for kids in need. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture have collected thousands of gifts for The Home for Little Wanderers since the end of November. On Tuesday, December 18 at 10 a.m., both companies will be dropping off at least three moving vans full of gifts to The Home’s Toy Room, 161 South Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain.

"Once again, we invited our neighbors to join us in helping the many children and families supported by The Home," said Rick Loughlin, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage New England. "This is a special time of year, and every family and child should have at least one gift to call their own. We are very grateful for the outpouring of support in our communities."

For many local families, donating to The Home’s Gift Drive is a tradition. Dating back to the late 1800s, the gift drive has a long history of making the holidays brighter for those in need.

"The Home for Little Wanderers helps so many kids and families throughout our community," said Bernie Rubin, chairman and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. "We are so grateful to our neighbors who have joined us in bringing happiness and joy to the numerous children and families who need us this holiday season."

In addition to providing toys to unwrap this Christmas, The Home received numerous donations of gift cards and clothing—items that are especially useful to the older children in our care.

"We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from people across the Bay State," said Joan Wallace-Benjamin, President and CEO of The Home for Little Wanderers. "The holidays are our most important time of year. We remained optimistic that the recent events in the news wouldn’t dampen anyone’s holiday spirits and, as we’d hoped, many local businesses like Coldwell Banker and Bernie & Phyl’s came through for us."

The Home’s Big Wishes for Little Wanderers Gift Drive runs through Friday, December 21. Donations benefit children and families served by The Home. Visit http://www.thehome.org/ to learn how you can give back or donate a gift to a child in need this holiday season.

The Home for Little Wanderers is a nationally renowned, private, non-profit child and family service agency providing services to thousands of children and families, through 20 programs. The mission of The Home is to ensure the healthy emotional, mental and social development of children, their families, and communities. With a history dating back to 1799, The Home for Little Wanderers is the oldest child welfare agency in the nation, and one of the largest in New England.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real estate brokerage company in New England. With more than 5,000 sales associates and staff in more than 100 office locations, the organization serves consumers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.

Based in Norton, MA, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is the largest privately-owned furniture retailer in Massachusetts. The family run business has five stores in New England: Braintree, MA; Nashua, NH; Raynham, MA; Saugus, MA; and Westboro, MA. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture received the prestigious Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence, in 2007 and 2004, which is given to companies that embody the highest ethical standards. In 2002, the company was named "Retailer of the Year" by the National Home Furnishings Association, which is the highest honor in the retail home furnishings industry.