Give A Christmas 2022: Over $307,000 raised for Bucks County families in need

This past holiday, Bucks County residents once again came to aid of their neighbors in need.

Give A Christmas campaigns, run by the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer with their nonprofit partners to help people in need in Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties, raised more than $307,000 combined and helped hundreds of people right here at home.

All donations go directly to those in need.

“The generosity, like always, is just unbelievable," said Mary Berman, of the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis. "So many people reached out to help their neighbors."

The Bucks County Courier Times and the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis sponsored Give A Christmas every year since 1958 and have raised more than $5 million. The money raised helps Lower Bucks residents around the holidays.

This year, about $105,872 was raised. The goal was $132,000, however Berman, who oversees Give A Christmas on behalf of the Kiwanis, said those funds were able to help a lot of people this holiday season. The money helped about 2,500 families.

“It really makes a significant impact," she said.

The funds are distributed through vouchers that are given out to families. Berman said about 3,850 vouchers were handed out. There were 636 donations made to the campaign this year.

“It’s not just buying a Christmas gift for under the tree," she said. "Often it's putting a meal on the table.”

Give A Christmas helps all year:Give A Christmas: Donations help Bucks County, Montco residents in need all year

Inflation affecting people:Give A Christmas: Inflation could be humbug for holiday shoppers, families already struggling

Give A Christmas campaigns near $250K:Courier and Intell Give a Christmas campaigns approach $250,000 for families in crisis

The Intelligencer and Bucks County Opportunity Council participated in Give A Christmas for 35 years and have raised over $3 million in those years. The funds raised go to helping people in Central and Upper Bucks County as well as eastern Montgomery County.

This year, the campaign raised $201,618, exceeding its goal of $165,000.

Joseph Cuozzo, director of development for the BCOC, said about 450 families were helped this year, about a 20% increase from the year prior.

“All of those gifts make a great difference for the people of Central and Upper Bucks that come to our program," he said.

Local philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein pledged $25,000 should the Intelligencer's Give A Christmas reach $175,000, $10,000 over its goal, which it did. Gene Epstein dedicated his donation on behalf of his Jewish neighbors to call attention to their charitable work they do for their neighbors.

“On behalf of the 10 synagogues within Bucks County and the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund, we are honored to be able to offer this $25,000 to the Give A Christmas Campaign and BCOC," Gene Epstein said. “Thank you to everyone for their fantastic efforts to help us reach our goal and provide $200,000 to families in need in Bucks County.”

Both Berman and Cuozzo said the funds helped people put food on the table. With the rising cost of food and groceries, the money helped a lot of people this year.

“We saw a tremendous amount of need," said Cuozzo. "Much more than in past years.”

“It’s been a tough time for so many people," Berman said.

Any leftover money from the campaigns go to help people in need throughout the year with other expenses too.

Both Cuozzo and Berman thanked the Bucks County community for giving back and helping their neighbors in need.

“We just continued to be blessed by the wonderful Bucks County community," Cuozzo said.

The generosity of people, Berman said, let them help hundreds of people this holiday.

“Without their support we would not be able to do that," she said.

Danielle Camilli, editor of the Courier Times and The Intell, thanked the community and the paper's readers and subscribers for their generous support of the campaigns. Donations range from a few dollars to large corporate and personal gifts to the funds. It all counts, Camilli said.

"It is truly amazing what the people of Bucks County do each and every year, even when times of tough," she said. "We are grateful for every donation because we know it has direct impact in our communities and we know the need is so great. We thank you all, you gave families a Christmas and so much more."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Give A Christmas: $307K raised for Bucks County families this year