The Buonfiglio Funeral Home is mounting a campaign to help active and non-active military families get toys for Christmas.
Paul S. Buonfiglio said the Operation Toy Soldier campaign is part of the national Veterans Funeral Care organization. The local campaign started on Monday, Dec. 1 and goes through Dec. 21.
“I just wanted to do something for our active duty soldiers, especially, and their families,†he said. “The funeral home is part of the Veterans Funeral Care and this is one of their programs. It’s an effort to get toys for kids whose parent is deployed overseas for Christmas and maybe they’re not going to get toys for Christmas. A lot of people say ‘Support Our Troops’ and what better way than this?â€
Buonfiglio just recently graduated from Assumption College and is headed to Navy Basic Training in February.
He said that fact makes the Toy Drive personal to him.
The Funeral Home has reached out to Veterans Agent Nick Bua and to local military recruiters.
“Our goal is to find three or four, preferably local, families in Revere that we will be able to do this for exclusively,†said Buonfiglio.
The home is asking that new, unwrapped toys be donated for ages 0-13, boys and girls. Drop off locations are at the Funeral Home, 128 Revere St., or at the Revere Veterans Affairs Office.
“A lot of our soldiers live below the poverty line,†he said. “When you go in you only make about $18,000. That’s just not much, especially if you have kids. They really need our help.â€
For more information, call (781) 284-3376.
Cutline –
Paul S. Buonfiglio of Buonfiglio’s Funeral Home is coordinating the Operation Toy Soldier toy drive this December for military families who are in need.