The late Mayor Tom Menino has been gone since 2014, but that hasn’t stopped volunteers and family members from pushing forward his legacy of charitable service every December for the families of Dorchester’s Bowdoin Geneva neighborhood.

By every account, the late mayor came to know just about every inch of Boston during his many years in office, and according to family members, he had a special interest in Bowdoin Geneva, especially at Christmas time.

So it was that last Friday, Christmas Eve, the Menino family took on its 28th annual distribution at St. Peter’s Teen Center, continuing an effort that the mayor started himself in 1994.

“Hopefully we’ll spread some holiday cheer to people who need it most,” said his daughter-in-law, Lisa Lamberti Menino, as tears came to her eyes while organizing packages in the St. Peter’s gym. “That’s something that feels pretty good. Last year we did food to help during the pandemic, and we continue to provide gifts. He always had a big heart for this particular area.”

Added Thomas ‘Tommy’ Menino, the late mayor’s son, “Our dad loved the holidays and he loved people - especially the kids. Christmas Eve was a big day in our house and him being in this neighborhood on this day brought him joy – the simple effort to walk these streets, show up here every year, and try to help more people enjoy the day as much as we did with our own family. That was the spirit of the season for him and we are proud to carry it on for the next generation.”

Around 10 a.m., families from St. Peter’s Teen Center began to line up just off Bowdoin Street with hand carts and baskets. In the parking lot of the Teen Center, volunteers scurried to distribute packages of gifts and food to the participants – while volunteers also packed parcels into the vehicles of parishioners from St. Peter’s Church ready to deliver to those who couldn’t come out.

“It’s just the spirit of Christmas,” said volunteer James McMahon, of West Roxbury. “It’s the least we can do, because so many need help right now.”

Resident Maria Rivera, of Marie Street, talked about how critical the distribution is for those in need, noting that children are at home now from school and the extra food allows relief for families like hers.

“This will last us at least a week and a half because I have all the kids at home,” she said. “You know that they will need more, and you’ll need more food. We really appreciate all the volunteer help and that they come here to our community every year. This is very important help to us. Some of us can’t afford everything we want to buy and do for Christmas.”

In addition to the 300 families served in person and by delivery, other friendly faces were in attendance, including former First Lady Angela Menino, Mayor Wu, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Councillor-elect Brian Worrell, and state Rep. Liz Miranda.
“I wouldn’t be here at all if I wasn’t part of the many, many people in the Menino alumni family,” said Wu. “We can all feel Mayor Menino here, knowing he’s still taking care of this city. We will continue to take care of each other in that way, and especially in these hard times.”

The cardinal offered that this was the kind of gesture that should be elevated in these times. “This is a time when we see so much polarization in our world; a time when we see so much hatred in our world,” he said. “But this is a season and a time of peace, and this is a beautiful gesture of our call to serve and love one another.”

The annual memorialization of Tom Menino’s life and charitable spirit was supported by the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Fund for Boston, the City of Boston Credit Union, Catholic Charities of Boston, and the Boston Police Department.