Turner Construction builds up boot drive to benefit Horizons for Homeless Children

Boston, MA Employees from Turner Construction Company’s Boston business unit came together for the eighth year to donate 176 pairs of boots and gift cards to help support Horizons for Homeless Children in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury. In eight years of donations, Turner staff have donated 1,425 pairs of boots to Horizons for Homeless Children.

Turner staff participated in the drive from various locations and jobsites, and were ultimately able to collect enough donations to provide every child in each of the centers a new pair of boots – as well as their siblings.

 “We are always proud to partner with Horizons for Homeless Children and support their incredible mission to support children in need,” said Meaghan Hooper Berdik, vice president and general manager of Turner Construction. “For Turner staff, the Boot Drive is part of our holiday season and we all look forward to it. We know that this year the need is greater than ever and we are proud to do our part to help.”

Typically, each Turner Construction location participating in the donation drive set up boards with boot-shaped tags, each of which had a name, age, and shoe size, and employees selected their own recipients. Donations benefited children of all ages. However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company got creative and conducted the boot drive online for the 2020 effort.

“Partners like Turner Construction Company make our work possible all year long. During the winter, children need boots and the boot drive helps us ensure that our children have them every year – and their parents have one less thing to worry about. We are grateful for their continued support during the holiday season and throughout the year with financial support and employee volunteers, both of which are crucial to Horizons accomplishing its mission of serving children and families experiencing homelessness.” Kathie Carroll Day, Managing Director of Development at Horizons for Homeless Children.

Horizons for Homeless Children works to improve the lives of young homeless children in Massachusetts and help their families succeed by providing high-quality early education, opportunities for play, and comprehensive family support services.