Author: Jciavaglia

As the holidays wrap up and a fresh new year is laid out before us, it’s a good time to reflect on our hopes for the weeks and months ahead.

Christmas brings on a spirit of giving in Lower Bucks that touches many lives, but the everyday struggles of our neighbors in need extend well beyond the holiday season. That is why the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club and Bucks County Courier Times will continue to accept donations until the Give A Christmas fund hits its $132,000 goal.

“Courier Times readers shined brightly again this year,” Executive Editor Shane Fitzgerald said. “It’s been a tough year, and people still reached deep to help others. We had an ambitious goal, and we’re almost there. I’m hopeful we can get in the fundraising time we have left this year. It’s so helpful to those in need.”

The fund is less than $10,000 short of its goal.

“The Christmas season is now coming to a close, but contributing to the Give A Christmas campaign has not stopped. Every donor is valued, appreciated and an important part of this community,” said Mary Berman, Kiwanis Club board member, past president and one of the main organizers of the campaign.

The money collected was distributed primarily as $35 vouchers for children in struggling families throughout Lower Bucks County to help parents and grandparents put a meal on the table or gifts under the tree.

Beyond the holidays, remaining funds are used to help individuals and families needing help in various forms throughout the year. Another reason continued donations towards the fund are vitally important.

“During the year Kiwanis uses this money to help needy families with things that are necessary for day to day living, things that many of us take for granted,” Berman explained.

“Your donations help us to provide ongoing support of the local food banks and help struggling families with much needed items such as clothing, medicine and food. We have utilities turned back on and get oil delivered the same day, after learning about a family that can’t pay the bill and will not have heat on a cold winter night. New beds have been provided for families that are sleeping on the floor.”

To donate, visit buckscountycouriertimes.com/giveachristmas or see the donation coupon on page A2 of the Bucks County Courier Times print editions.

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

With Christmas just days away, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of checking holiday tasks off your endless to-do list.

But in the spirit of the season, let’s remember Christmas is a time for giving, a chance to think of those around us who may need a little extra help after a particularly tough year.

Christmas brings with it the opportunity to bring a little warmth and cheer to your neighbors in need.

An easy way to do this is by donating to the annual Give A Christmas fund, a campaign administered by the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club, in partnership with the Bucks County Courier Times.

Letters have continued to come in from struggling families looking for a way to provide a bit of joy to their children this holiday season. Their stories, many handwritten on lined notebook paper, include job layoffs, lost loved ones and illness. They come from Levittown, Bristol, Bensalem, Morrisville, Croydon, and several other communities across Lower Bucks.

“Every dollar that is given by this community truly helps to lighten the burdens of others. Any donation will help to keep the spirit of giving alive at Christmas,” said Mary Berman, Kiwanis Club board member, past president and one of the main organizers of the campaign.

The money collected is distributed primarily as $35 vouchers for children in struggling families in Lower Bucks County. The vouchers are redeemable at participating local supermarkets and other stores to help parents and grandparents put a meal on the table or gifts under the tree. This year, at least 3,100 vouchers have been supplied so far.

Additionally, remaining funds go towards helping families throughout the year, going towards expenses such as heating oil, furniture or medication.

This year’s fundraising goal is $132,000, an increase of $12,000 after last year’s campaign far-exceeded expectations with a record $218,379 raised. With only a week to go, the campaign is just shy of half of its goal.

With only a few weeks left in the campaign, contributions are still very much needed.

“While we are behind in donations this year from our goal and from last year, I’m confident our community understands the needs after a difficult year in Lower Bucks, especially given the significant weather events that turned so many lives upside down,” said Shane Fitzgerald, executive editor of the Bucks County Courier Times. “Our readers have stepped up for decades, and I hope they will do so again down the stretch. The Give A Christmas funds go directly to recipients who need it most, so one can make an immediate impact with their donation.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

I had the good fortune Wednesday to attend the Bucks County Community College’s holiday gathering. I say good fortune because we actually could get together and actually, physically see good people I hadn’t seen anywhere but a Zoom call in about two years.

We all were there to support the good work done at BCCC and celebrate the important role the school plays in our community.

It was nice to be around people for a good cause, rallying together and putting aside whatever differences we may have on vaccines, masks, gun rights, politics, etc. It’s been a tough couple of years, with far too much anger and vitriol surrounding us and not nearly enough understanding, compassion and empathy for others.

It was good for the soul.

As I walked to the car after the event, I thought about what I was going to write to encourage readers to contribute again to our Give A Christmas program. GAC certainly qualifies as a good-for-the-soul opportunity. Many in our community still are recovering from the flooding, tornadoes, Hurricane Ida remnants, and of course, pandemic effects. We can’t forget those who still are battling back.

The Bucks County Courier Times partners with the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club to collect and distribute monetary donations. The money collected is given primarily as $35 vouchers for children in struggling families in Lower Bucks County.

Give A Christmas launched Sunday, Nov. 7. Our previous owners, the Calkins family, started the initiative 64 years ago at the Bucks County Courier Times. They brought it to the Burlington County Times 54 years ago and to The Intelligencer 34 years ago. Our generous community has donated well in excess of $10 million over the years, $4.7 million by Courier readers.

And those readers last year brought in a record $218,379 in the extraordinary year that was 2020.

Readers historically have supported Give A Christmas with substantial generosity, but expenses have been greater than income for the past few years. That means there is more need out there than even in the most generous of years can cover. This year, we set a goal of $132,000 — more in line with a typical fundraising year — to help those in need.

And with the pandemic remaining in full swing, the need is heightened this year.

We’re only about one-third of the way to our goal so far and substantially off from 2020. So your help is absolutely needed again this year.

Bucks County residents with children are primarily those who receive assistance, and the Kiwanis Club works with its partners and local schools to distribute vouchers to local retailers and supermarkets throughout the community. Readers can find information to submit requests and give donations at our website www.couriertimes.com/giveachristmas and find information daily in our print product’s news pages.

Last year, hundreds of Bucks County children benefited from the program, mostly from modest to large donations from readers. Every dollar counts and is important so no contribution is too small. We’ve received everything from $1 to thousands of dollars in donations and each benefits someone.

We honor those who donate by recognizing them in our publications, publishing almost-daily lists of donors. Over and over, when needs come up, residents show their generosity through their wallets.

Sometimes, Give A Christmas proceeds provide a gift for kids who might not get one. Other times, it helps pay the utility or food bills. And it’s not just about Christmas. It helps anyone in need, regardless of faith or politics.

We live in a wonderful area and are fortunate. What is unfortunate is that not everyone has the same opportunities or resources and often people get in a bad spot through no fault of their own. That is especially true this year.

I hope the gift of giving, even during these trying times, is in your heart and wallets. So many are in need, especially at this time and in this place. You can, and will, make a difference. The positive energy can only enrich this holiday season.

Shane Fitzgerald is Executive Editor of the Bucks County Courier Times and the State Editor for the USA Today Network’s 14 Pennsylvania media outlets. Contact him at sfitzgerald@couriertimes.com.

Sheldon and Bonnie Post have come across many children over the years whose families have struggled to make it through the holidays.

As retired teachers, it’s a reality that has stuck with the Levittown couple and encouraged them to send a check in to the Give A Christmas fund every year.

“I think it probably makes a big difference to most of these families. I know Kiwanis goes to great lengths to make sure it goes to families who need it most and deserve it most,” said Sheldon.

“We were both teachers and we both obviously enjoyed working with kids. They were our life,” he explained. “Knowing from teaching, if you had say, 35 or so in a class, you knew some weren’t as fortunate as others. We always wanted to give for those who weren’t as fortunate.”

During the holiday season, the Bucks County Courier Times and the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club partner to collect and distribute monetary donations to assist struggling local families through the Give A Christmas campaign. Over the years, the Courier Times readers have contributed more than $4.7 million to help their neighbors in need.

The local community has a persistent history of coming through in support of the campaign, said Mary Berman, Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club board member, past president and one of the main organizers of Give A Christmas.

“When the letters come in, I look geographically where a lot of the letters came from and it’s just amazing how many people are right within the community where their neighbor or somebody might be hurting,” said Berman.

As of this week, the campaign is about a third of the way to its goal of $132,000.

The money collected is distributed primarily as $35 vouchers for children in struggling families in Lower Bucks County. The vouchers are redeemable at participating local supermarkets and other stores to help families buy food for a holiday meal or a gift for a child.

The idea some children could wake up Christmas morning with no presents under a tree compels Margaret Hoisington to make her annual donation to the fund. Even this year, which has been a difficult one since her husband passed away, the Newtown resident thinks of the families she and her late husband had met through their years running an engineering consulting firm.

“We’ve found families that haven’t even had a table to eat at and we’d do what we can to help them. Throughout the years, I’ve seen it all, and I always give,” Hoisington said.

As a long-standing contributor, Hoisington strives to give whatever she can.

“I have lived in the area forever and have contributed over the years, probably since from the very beginning. So, I feel it’s the right thing to do at this time of the year—anything to make other families happy just as we are in our family,” Hoisington said. “Everything adds up, even if it’s a dollar, it means something,” she added.

Sheldon Post agrees every little bit helps and encourages everyone to consider donating what they can because no matter the amount, when it all comes together, he believes it makes a meaningful impact.

“If you can imagine every single person on one street in Levittown donating, that would be quite a bit of money,” he said. “My wife and I are of the opinion, if you can make it a little better for just one family, it’s better than doing nothing. Every family that’s helped is a good thing.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

There is a special magic brought on only by the holiday season. It’s a feeling tenderly preserved and passed down each year from parents and grandparents to their children and grandchildren.

It comes in many forms — the smell of cookies baking in the oven, the warmth of a home strung with lights, or the mystery and wonder of a spying carefully wrapped gift.

Families do all they can to provide their children with a Christmas filled with hope, love and joy. But what happens when life takes a turn and meeting just the everyday needs seem impossible?

At this moment, requests are pouring in for help from the annual Give A Christmas campaign, a program administered by the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club, in partnership with the Bucks County Courier Times.

Kiwanis volunteers spend countless hours reading through these letters sent by folks who, despite the unfortunate circumstances they find themselves at odds with, just want to give their children the Christmas they deserve.

The stories shared in these letters are heartbreaking, said Mary Berman, Kiwanis Club board member, past president and one of the main organizers of the campaign. But she recognizes the courage it takes to ask for help and treats each letter with the compassion and respect they warrant.

“They need that extra support. You know, they may be working, but they’re working minimum wage jobs,” explained Berman. “They’re barely making it for the regular bills, and to have Christmas thrown in there and try to tell your child, ‘You can’t have a Christmas tree this year’.”

This year, Berman says they’re seeing a lot of people who have lost their jobs and worry they won’t be able to buy presents for their kids. Work has halted for some due to pandemic-related closures, others have had to stay home caring for ill loved ones or are struggling to get the hours they need thanks to a lack of childcare options.

The reasons cover a broad spectrum of problems, but one thing remains the same —they just want to give their kids a little piece of Christmas joy.

“I want to put a smile on my kids’ faces Christmas morning,” wrote a single mother of four one year after having just lost her job. “I would be so grateful if you could help.”

Another time, a mother of a 7-year-old girl asked for help after escaping an abusive relationship, leaving her homeless, without a car or any money. She relied on friends and family for rides so she could continue to work. “I try to maintain a normal life as much as I can for my daughter as she is my world and it’s heartbreaking every day to know I don’t know how I am going to provide for her,” wrote the woman.

Some are simply unable to work, as a disabled Croydon mother of three wrote a few years ago. “This time of year is difficult on us; we have no money left in the budget to buy any presents for our children,” she said. “My hope is for help this holiday with presents for under the tree for my children.”

This year, the requests aren’t much different. And in addition to the letters received, the program depends heavily on schools identifying children needing assistance. Between the letters and school referrals, it’s apparent many Bucks County residents will be struggling to make it through this holiday.

But there is hope.

The generous contributions coming in add up, making a difference in the lives of local families who desperately need to feel a bit of relief and hopefulness during such a difficult time. The money collected will primarily go towards the purchase and distribution of $35 vouchers to local struggling families.

This year’s goal the Kiwanis set out to raise $132,000 and they still need the community’s help to reach it and help as many families as possible. Berman hopes that by keeping the money local, it will continue inspiring Bucks County residents and businesses to give towards the Give A Christmas fund.

“I just think it’s really neat when you see neighbor helping neighbor,” said Berman. “I think when you live in a community, a lot of times you are aware of people that are in need.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

Bucks County has heart.

In the face of runaway inflation, natural disasters, and the continued public health and economic fallout of COVID-19, Bucks County residents have, on the whole, continued providing ample support to area nonprofits.

While every organization’s experience is different and some have been better supported than others, that’s the general positive word from leaders at a number of area nonprofits. They’re hopeful the trend will continue and accelerate now that the holiday season is in full swing.

Giving Tuesday, an annual global initiative that encourages donating money, time and/or resources to worthy organizations and causes, falls on Tuesday, Nov. 30. It presents an excellent opportunity to jumpstart the altruistic outreach to Bucks County nonprofits in the run up to Christmas.

“I think folks would be surprised to see what a difference every gift makes to us,” said Marissa Christie, president/CEO of United Way of Bucks County. “We have donors who give a little and donors who give a lot. And it all matters. It all helps strengthen our entire community.”

Christie noted that December is a crucial time for nonprofits in their efforts to continue generating the funds necessary to operate their missions.

“Our community support remains very strong, but most nonprofits — including ours — won’t know how 2021 really went until Dec. 31,” she said. “More than 30% of all annual giving happens in December.”

On Giving Tuesday last year, United Way of Bucks County experienced a “big bump” in donations thanks to a weeklong fundraising campaign that included a matching gift from locals Simon and Jane Hallett. Some 276 donors contributed during the campaign in 2020. United Way is orchestrating a similar initiative with the Halletts through Giving Tuesday this year.

“We can’t serve the people we need to serve without donations from our friends and neighbors in Bucks County,” Christie said. “We count on those end-of-year gifts so that we can feed people who are hungry, provide a path home for those experiencing homelessness, ensure that all children enter school ready to learn, and give hard-working families the opportunities they need to thrive, now and in the future.”

Joseph Cuozzo shares similar sentiments.

He’s director of development at Doylestown-based Bucks County Opportunity Council, the lead anti-poverty agency in Bucks County, focusing on combatting poverty and promoting economic self-sufficiency. He said that donations of both money and essentials like food supplies are the marrow of the organization.

Fortunately, Bucks Countians have continued to provide BCOC with robust support. Through Nov. 14, for instance, the council had received more than $1 million in donations thanks to 1,488 gifts —  a 27% increase in the number of donations and 48% increase in the amount relative to the comparable period the year prior.

“If someone wants to make the world a better place, they have to give their time, their talent and/or their treasure,” says Cuozzo. “People in Bucks County have been very generous and respond to people in need. It’s important that continues this holiday season.”

Family Service Association of Bucks County is hoping for the same.

The nonprofit offers a variety of programs and services focused on increasing opportunities for adults, protecting seniors, reducing substance use, improving the lives of people with mental illness and those living with HIV/AIDS, and more.

Reliant on community support to advance its mission, the organization has scored some notable success with fundraising of late. That includes generating about $84,500 from an annual golf outing in October; the total was a record for the event. In April, Family Service Association raised about $377,000 through an annual benefit, held virtually due to COVID, for its Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter. The amount was also a record.

“Beyond these events, monetary donor support appears to be on pace with past years, but the year is not over yet and continued support is so important, as donor support and grant funding are our financial lifelines,” said Brian Treanor, Family Service’s grants and communications manager.

The money is used to help locals in desperate need of need a leg up — which is also the goal of the Bucks County Courier Times’ and Bristol-Levittown Kiwanis’ annual Give A Christmas fund.

“The majority of our clients are living well-below the national poverty line,” said Treanor. “In the past year, we provided over 330 people with shelter, 1,200 families with nutrition from our food pantry, over 19,000 individuals with crisis support via our Contact Help Line and Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and over 1,600 folks with counseling for substance use and mental health disorders.”

Treanor noted that Family Service Association of Bucks County holds an annual Giving Tuesday initiative that helps generate revenue. It’s part of broader, ongoing efforts aimed at raising awareness to spur community support.

“We have a very dynamic social media presence, and we host week and monthlong fundraisers throughout the year in support of such causes as Suicide Prevention Week/Month, where we exceeded a month-long established goal in less than two weeks,” Treanor said. “So while we do anticipate donor activity on Giving Tuesday, it is one of many occasions where we ask our donors to step up at various levels and support our mission, which is to listen, care and help.”

Keystone Opportunity Center in Montgomery County runs a like-minded mission, helping community members in need by offering a comprehensive array of social services that educate, encourage and empower them to become self-sufficient.

Malcolm Friend, Keystone’s director of resource development, says that the pandemic has presented new challenges to generating community support for the organization, including having to put certain fundraising events on hold or to operate others virtually. “Donors we once could always rely upon have reached out to Keystone Opportunity Center in need,” Friend said.

— Chris Ruvo, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

A social worker recently visited the home of a single mom and her four kids. Despite the efforts of the mom, who worked full time to keep a roof over their heads, she could barely afford to furnish the place.

She shared a bed with her 3-year-old. Her oldest, a teenager, slept on a bed supported on one end by an air conditioning unit.

The social worker knew this family deserved better. So, she reached out on behalf of this mom to a friend she knew volunteered with the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club. The club in turn, provided new bed frames, mattresses, box springs and beddings for each of the four kids.

It’s an all-too-common story. A mom is doing everything she can, but she doesn’t have enough to pay for the things her family needs, explained Kiwanis member and president-elect Jill Saul.

“She works full time, but she’s the working poor and doesn’t have a lot of money,” said Saul. “When people are struggling and don’t ask for help, and someone is able to help them and lift them, then their lives change. And their outlook on the world changes.”

Often people aren’t sure where to turn for help, explained Mary Berman, a Kiwanis board member and past-president.

“For a lot of these families, we may be the first contact they make because there may be an immediate need, and then after that immediate need is met, it’s necessary for them to get involved with another organization to help them rectify the situation in the long term,” said Berman, emphasizing the large role local social service agencies play in meeting the expanding needs of the community.

Throughout Bucks County, countless children, senior citizens and families were already struggling to make it. For those just getting by, the addition of pandemic- and weather-related problems, brought many to their knees, explained Marissa Christie, president and CEO of the United Way of Bucks County.

“We thought last year was going to be our toughest year, but this year has given us more new challenges than we ever anticipated,” said Christie.

“These are folks who are working sometimes more than one job and still struggling to make ends meet. In general, a financial emergency can really create huge problems for these families.”

It is within this time of increasing need that the Bucks County Courier Times, along with the Kiwanis, is running its annual Give A Christmas campaign, which relies on the generosity of the community to directly help families in need in Lower Bucks County during the holidays.

To add to the challenges, a shortage in teachers and daycare workers, has left working parents scrambling to find safe and reliable childcare options, said Christie.

A lack of affordable housing also remains a huge concern, according to Erin Lukoss, executive director of the Bucks County Opportunity Council. Many working parents, for example, struggle to earn enough income to pay rent and still be able to meet other basic needs, such as food and childcare, she noted.

“The people who have the greatest challenge are those who are working and earning a decent wage, but the wage doesn’t support the cost of living here in Bucks County,” said Lukoss.

Food-insecurity and access to mental health and addiction services are additional barriers, local nonprofit organizations, like Family Service Association of Bucks County, have continued working to address.

“The last year has been challenging for everybody in different ways … In the past year, we have seen a dramatic increase in the need for all of our services. In fact, the number of clients our agency serves has grown from 29,503 in 2020 to an anticipated number in excess of 30,000 over the past year,” said Brian Treanor, grants and communications manager with Family Service.

This increase has been significant across all services, explained Treanor, including Family Service’s Contact Help Line, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, emergency homeless shelter, HIV/AIDS program, food pantry, Family strengthening program, behavioral health program, and new ride-along program.

Regardless, these agencies have remained committed, even as the need for help continues to expand.

“Family Service has countless heroes, many of whom have been on the front lines since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty was at its peak. … Our staff, volunteers, community partners, and generous donors have helped us achieve what seemed impossible: for hope and help to continue. For that, we could not be more grateful,” said Julie Dees, CEO of Family Service.

When the problems seem too vast to overcome, Lukoss reflects on the outcomes her staff and volunteers witness with each opportunity to help.

“It is a huge problem, and it could feel unsolvable. But every time we are able to help a family move into their new home and we see the relief and the happiness on their faces, that’s why we keep going because if we give up, we’re giving up on our community. Everybody deserves their shot at happiness. And at the end of the day, that’s all anyone wants, is to have their family together and to meet their needs. And we can’t do it alone, we need the help of the community,” said Lukoss.

This help, from individuals and organizations across the county – no matter how big or small – adds up and makes a real difference, Christie said.

“None of us can do everything, but that doesn’t mean we should do nothing. No matter what kind of contribution you can make, it’s going to impact on someone and it’s going to be comfort to someone and it’s going to make someone feel part of a community. That’s the best we can do for each other is come together as a community and help when and where we can,” said Christie.

And when the community steps up, programs like Give a Christmas, can help restore a little bit of what was lost this past year, so everyone has a chance to experience a little joy this holiday season.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made Christmas different for most of us, but for some families, it has not only made it different, but difficult,” said Berman. “Even a small donation will help a needy family to survive the impact that COVID-19 has had on their lives. Any donation will help to keep the spirit of giving alive at Christmas.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

The holiday season is upon us, and with that the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club is focused on its annual Give A Christmas fund.

With more than $4.7 million raised throughout its 63 years, the program has grown into the biggest campaign run by the local Kiwanis chapter, in partnership with the Bucks County Courier Times.

But while this campaign has made quite a name for itself, the Kiwanis Club remains unknown to some, said board member and past president Mary Berman.

“A lot of times people don’t always know what Kiwanis is, but if we say ‘Give A Christmas,’ they totally understand where we’re coming from,” Berman pointed out.

It all started in 1954. Members of the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club, originally named Levittown Kiwanis Club, initially collected money among themselves and used the funds to buy food and clothing to distribute to families in need.

“It was a small start, but it grew,” said Mary Ann Delia, board member and past president and of Kiwanis Club. “They found out what needs there were, and they started gathering together to figure out a way to meet those needs.”

Today, through the faithful efforts of its dedicated volunteers, the club’s initiatives have grown larger in scope, with several service projects designed to lift the local community throughout the year.

One such large undertaking is the annual Kiwanis-Herald Sesame Place Classic, hosted in partnership with the Bucks County Herald.

“That’s a big deal which takes hundreds of hours of work. We’re not a large club so everybody plays a part,” Delia said.

The race, which has been put on hold during the pandemic, has attracted as many as 2,000 runners in a day with its 5K race, 1-mile fun run and Sesame Sprint.

The funds raised from the one-day event go towards the Dick Dougherty Scholarship Fund which provides financial assistance to college-bound student athletes from 17 area high schools, explained Delia. The students, one male and one female from each school, are selected based on the recommendations of the schools’ athletic directors and are honored at a banquet put on by the Kiwanis Club.

The best part is knowing it all benefits the kids, she added.

“(The scholarship recipients) are outstanding examples of the kinds of students that we’re producing in our Bucks County schools. It’s actually inspirational to be there when the videos are being shown and when the students are coming up to the microphone to accept their scholarships. You leave their feeling energized,” said Delia.

Another initiative, which gets the organization out in front of the community, takes place each year at Historic Bristol Day. The Kiwanis Club sets up a table filled with book donations to hand out to children who stop by and visit. This year, more than 500 books were distributed, said Delia.

“All in all, it’s a very nice way to connect with the Bristol community. The focus is definitely on distributing books to children. It’s a good way to get the word out that Kiwanis is there, that Kiwanis is in the community, and if you need help, then we’re there,” explained Delia.

In the spirit of giving to children, the Kiwanis Club also adopted Violetwood Park in Bristol Township, which was rededicated in 2014. Thanks to two donations totaling $35,000, they revitalized the existing park, adding new playground equipment, handicap-accessible swings, mesh benches and a basketball court.

And then there’s the help they provide to people in need throughout the year, thanks largely in part to the remainder of unused funds from Give A Christmas.

Members read letters during the holidays and beyond from people asking for help in very specific ways and Kiwanis finds a way to meet their needs. Sometimes it’s providing grocery and gas gift cards to a family who’s travelling back and forth to the city for their child’s medical appointments. Other times, it’s providing oil to someone who would otherwise be without heat in the winter.

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of their devoted donors, explained Delia.

“I see the same names year after year contributing. And then there are always new contributors,” said Delia. “We have a good base and lots of generous people in our communities.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times

Severe floods, multiple tornadoes, and a persevering pandemic. 2021 has tested the strength and resilience of Bucks County residents with many, seemingly ruthless, blows.

And yet, one thing remains intact through it all — the manner in which neighbors continue to look out for and lift one another up, despite one unforgiving hardship after another.

Another test? Maybe. But a test this community has yet to fail.

It’s this dedication to compassion and selflessness that has the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club, in partnership with the Bucks County Courier Times, hopeful as they head into the 64th year of their annual Give A Christmas campaign.

The difficulties of these past two years have left a lot of families still reeling, said Mary Berman, Kiwanis Club board member, past president and one of the main organizers of the campaign.

“What we’re going to see is a lot of situational things where families still are trying to recover from last year. I don’t think we can say everything is back to normal. There’s a lot of recovery that has to take place,” said Berman.

“The sheer volume of horrific news events recently comes on top of everyday needs, even in times less chaotic that we are in now,” said Bucks County Courier Times Executive Editor Shane Fitzgerald. “Even in the best of times, many people through no fault of their own come across hardship. It’s heartening to live in a community that traditionally generously lends a helping hand, whatever the circumstances.”

In total, contributors have given more than $4.7 million to the Give a Christmas fund over the years to help their neighbors in need.

The faithful generosity of the community, and record donations in 2020, led the Kiwanis Club to increase the annual fund goal from $120,000 to $132,000 this 2021 holiday season. The money collected will primarily go towards the purchase and distribution of $35 vouchers to local struggling families. These vouchers can be redeemed at the following participating supermarkets and stores:

• Acme Market, 6800 New Falls Rd. in Levittown
• Acme Market, 2301 Bristol Rd. in Bensalem
• Acme Market, 800 Second Street Pk. in Richboro
• Barnes and Noble, Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem
• Burlington Coat Factory, 1563 Franklin Mills Cir. In Philadelphia
• Burlington Coat Factory, 2375 E. Lincoln Hwy. in Langhorne
• Redner’s Market, 2506 Knights Rd. in Bensalem
• Redner’s Market, 1361 Lincoln Hwy. in Langhorne
• Redner’s Market, Richland Mall in Quakertown
• Selecto Supermarket, 320 Pond St. in Bristol

In 2020, the campaign hit a new record, bringing in $218,379 from more than 1,100 donors, including a $50,000 match from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Foundation. This allowed for the distribution of 2,289 vouchers to children, families and senior citizens throughout lower Bucks County.

Making sure the right families received help last year came with an added complication. The program depends heavily on schools identifying children needing assistance, and with a number of students in virtual learning during the pandemic, it was not an easy task. But the schools worked off the free and reduced lunch program list and their close relationships with the families to pull together a list of names.

In addition to school referrals, voucher recipients also are identified through letters sent directly to Kiwanis. Members of the club sit together, reading letters from individuals asking for help for themselves or someone they know who desperately needs a hand.

“I have read many of letters and have sat and cried through the letters,” Berman said, as she recalled one story of a single mother, dying of cancer and worried for the children she would soon leave behind.

“Sometimes you’re sitting there and it’s like, oh my God, how can this happen to a family and happen to children, you know?” she said.

Despite the heartbreak, Berman takes comfort in the outpouring of love and support from those who continue to contribute to Give A Christmas each year.

“It’s really neat when you see neighbor helping neighbor,” Berman noted. “I’ve often heard of families, instead of exchanging gifts, will send us money as a group or as a family.”

“Our readers for more than 60 years now have been so generous at the holidays, but last year they completely outdid themselves when the need was so great,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m humbled that Give A Christmas has provided so much for our community. I’m grateful to the Calkins family for all their years of support and continued support. And I’m humbled by all of our generous donors who give a little or give a lot. So many families make it an annual tradition in their homes to give to this drive. That’s truly amazing and truly appreciated.”

— Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times