What started as a group of four good friends volunteering at the food pantry in Milford, has turned into an annual toy collection drive. 

Santa’s Porch is a local group founded six years ago by four forever friends to collect new unwrapped toys for local families in need of holiday help. 

The project started after the friends saw a need for help at the food pantry in Milford where they were volunteering monthly. The food pantry serves the communities of Hopedale, Milford and Upton but no one is every turned away. 

The porch in Hopedale — and yes, it is someone’s actual porch! — is open for no-contact drop off of toys.  

Each year, the project has grown and now includes other fundraisers as well as local groups who help with donations and with having a donation box. 

In addition to gifts, the group also accepts Venmo donations which are used to go toy shopping at the local Learning Express toys stores in Franklin and Westboro. 

“They are always gracious and give us a discount helping us buy more toys,” said LeeAnn DiPietropolo, who, along with Meg Rivett, Tracy Griffin Johnson and Laurie DiPietropolo Reynolds, started the organization. The four friends had been volunteering at the food pantry for about 20 years when one year, they noticed the small toy donation room did not have nearly enough toys for the need.

“Every year our friends and community come together to help! We can never thank

the community enough,” said DiPietropolo.      

Toys are distributed Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December to families who are clients of the food pantry. Last year, Santa’s Porch helped approximately 230 families and approximately 690 children. 

Donations will be accepted until Dec. 23.

To donate, find the address of the porch, or learn more about Santa’s Porch, visit Facebook @santasporch or email [email protected]. Donations can also be dropped off at the Hopedale Community House, 43 Hope  St.