Bucks County charities that keep your donation close to home
Americans opened their wallets on GivingTuesday with an estimated $3.1 billion donated in 2022.
Donations jumped by 15% last year, according to the nonprofit's data commons. More than 37 million Americans made some contribution according to the group that launched in 2012.
For those looking to keep those chariatable donations close to home, here is a look at some leading Bucks County nonprofits and our own program, Give A Christmas, that assist families and individuals at the holidays and year round.
Give A Christmas
The Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer each year partner with nonprofits to provide support to families in need.
Last year, some 3,835 vouchers were distributed and some 2,505 families were helped with the $113,372 donated by readers and the community through the Courier and Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club Give A Christmas drive.
Since its inception in 1958, the drive has collected more than $5.37 million.
More: Courier, Kiwanis Give A Christmas fund drive kicks off for holiday season
In its 36th year, the Intell partners with the Bucks County Opportunity Council for GAC, raising over $3.8 million since then
In 2022, the community contributed over $176,000 to Give A Christmas, which allowed the Opportunity Council to provide assistance to over 500 families (1,500 individuals) with the average assistance per family of $220. Of the families served, the average family income was $23,867.
Intell-BCOC Give A Christmas: Help Give A Christmas to Central and Upper Bucks County neighbors in need
Bucks County Opportunity Council
The Bucks County Opportunity Council partners with the county government to administer charitable works and is the lead agency for providing social services.
The nonprofit helps with everything from food, housing, and hosts economic self-sufficiency programs. The BCOC also helps run Hope of the Harvest with help from Delaware Valley University. Food grown on the campus is distributed to area food pantries.
As a federally registered nonprofit, the BCOC files regular accounting reports with the IRS. Just 8%, or $993,960, of its budget goes to administrative costs and paying employees.
More than $8.1 million goes out as financial assistance to county residents and $3.1 million was spent on programs.
United Way of Bucks County
The United Way of Bucks County operates the HELP Center, a faux supermarket where families in need can get everything from cleaning products and diapers to food, holiday decorations and toys.
The nonprofit also operates free, Fresh Connect farmers markets and distributes Senior Food Boxes to Bucks County residents ages 60 and older.
In tax filings, the agency reports more than $5.7 million in expenses with only $772,897, or 13%, spent on employee salaries and benefits.
Family Service Association of Bucks County
Family Service Association of Bucks County runs Bucks County’s only year-round emergency homeless shelter, and it always has a waiting list.
The nonprofit also runs the Bucks Villa, a group home in New Hope for those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, provides alcohol and drug counseling. FSA runs a Langhorne food pantry as well as a pet pantry for those who cannot afford to feed their pets.
In tax filings, the agency reports $9.5 million in expenses with $6.1 million, or 64%, going to pay and provide benefits to employees.
Bucks County SPCA
The Bucks County SPCA just celebrated it’s 110th birthday, helping to re-house pets and investigate allegations of cruelty against animals.
The nonprofit operates shelters in New Hope and Quakertown.
In 2021 alone, the organization said it was called upon to investigate 480 complaints of cruelty toward animals and cared for 2,765 pets in its shelters.
The organization said it receives no tax dollars or other government support. So, rescuing pets requires all public support.
In a recent IRS tax filing, the Bucks County SPCA reported a budget of $2.8 million with $1.7 million, or 60%, going to pay and provide benefits for workers at its shelters.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: GivingTuesday: Bucks County charities keep your donation local
