Large Toy Drive Spans Wayland, Framingham, Sudbury

WAYLAND, MA — The organizers behind the Wayland Town Carnival — which aided Ellie Levine, 5, in her fight against leukemia — are leading a toy drive this holiday season across locations in Wayland, Sudbury, and Framingham.

The carnival organizers have formed a new group called 8 Strangers, according to co-founder Doug Alongi. The gift drive, which runs through Dec. 15, will benefit the pediatric center at Boston Medical Center.

The toy drive has a goal of collecting 550 gifts for kids, and there will be a number of ways to donate.

Framingham's Next Pitch Baseball will host two clinics on Dec. 14. The clinics are free, but children must bring an unwrapped gift as a donation. Also on Dec. 14, BJH Services of Framingham will have a truck at Wayland Town Center to collect toys. The company will also pick up donations on Dec. 14 at your home if you call or text.

Students at Happy Hollow Elementary School in Wayland will also be collecting toys as part of a service learning project. The toy store Henry Bear's Park, 685 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, will offer a 20 percent discount on items purchased for the drive.

Drop-off locations

• Sudbury Craft Beer, 365 Boston Post Road
• 8 Bogren Lane, Wayland (private home)
• 3 Grove St., Wayland (private home)
• 12 Woodmere Road, Framingham (private home)
• Ace Hardware, Wayland Town Center, 70 Andrew Ave.
• Wayland Town Hall, 40 Cochituate Road
• Donations can also be shipped directly to Boston Medical Center, but need to be labeled "8 Strangers"

On Sept. 15, the 8 Strangers group threw a big carnival for Levine, who was diagnosed in March with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Alongi got the idea for the event after reading about Ellie's story on GoFundMe. In just two months, he and other volunteers organized a carnival featuring food trucks, music, and a bounce house. Ellie's parents, Doug and Leah, have also joined the 8 Strangers group and are helping with the toy drive.