Yule never believe: My Brother's Keeper collects 860 gifts for Christmas in July

In December 1990, My Brother's Keeper launched its Christmas Helpline program and provided gifts to 14 families, said Paul Key, Chief Development Officer.

And last year, the organization delivered gifts to 3,150 families in more than 100 communities, Key said, which naturally left supplies for the Christmas program “very depleted.”

So Christmas has come a little early this year. My Brother's Keeper has completed its first Christmas and July program, collecting a total of 860 gifts valued at about $19,000, Key said.

My Brother's Keeper is a Christian organization based in Dartmouth (1015 Reed Road) that delivers donated furniture, food and gifts to local families in need.

“We didn’t know what to expect and we were so grateful that our community really came together and helped us,” Key said.

He emphasized the growing need for this program and said that registration for local families could begin as early as August.

Gifts collected in July will be delivered to families as part of the usual program in December, Key said, but not before items are selected and packaged for each individual family, including parents.

In November, community members will be encouraged to sign up as volunteers at the organization's facilities in Easton and Dartmouth to help with packing, Key said.

Volunteers will select special gifts for families from inventory and assemble everything at one of the facility's wrapping stations, he added.

“It’s a great opportunity if anyone would like to come along in December, either as a family, work group or church group, to help us wrap gifts. [and] to deliver gifts,” Key said.

Key stressed how much the organization appreciates the help of the community, which was “so incredibly generous” last July.

He said this work is important for “many reasons,” but “the most important reason is inflation and the financial problems that so many families are currently facing.”

As he delivers food and groceries to community members throughout the year, Key hears from families who have to choose between paying their electric bills and eating food.

“For many families, giving their children Christmas presents is simply not an option,” he says, adding that the opportunity to alleviate some of that stress is a “huge benefit” of the job.

However, he said this has only been possible through the generosity of the community, which donates its time, money and gifts to families in need.

“We just want to make sure we thank everyone who contributed to this initiative,” Key said.