Not too late to donate to Give A Christmas

Peg Quann, Bucks County Courier Times
·3 min read

Finishing up your holiday preparations?

There's one last gift to consider and it doesn't need to be wrapped. It's a donation to the Give A Christmas drive sponsored by Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club and the Bucks County Courier Times to help those struggling financially right here in Bucks County.

As of Wednesday, the drive collected $67,309 and was able to provide 4,000 vouchers to help families in need, said Mary Berman, who directs the drive for the Kiwanis Club. Its goal for this year is $125,000 and the drive won't end on Christmas Day as donations will continue to be collected.

"The support for Give A Christmas over the years is always a bright spot because it neighbors helping neighbors. We know there are so many wonderful efforts to give to at the holidays and are grateful to our readers for their donations," said Danielle Camilli, editor of the Bucks County Courier Times. "Donations are running behind, but the need in our community is still great. We ask for your generous support again this year to help some of the most vulnerable among us have it a little easier this holiday season."

Donate: Help Give A Christmas to Bucks County neighbors in need

Any donation, no matter how large or small, will be accepted to help the Kiwanis Club aid those in need with food, clothing and housing. Each recipient receives a $35 voucher which can be used at participating retail stores and supermarkets in the county.

More: Give A Christmas helps families, seniors and children in Bucks County

The drive has helped seniors on fixed income and young families with children who want to see toys under their Christmas tree even if their parents are finding it hard to pay the rent and utilities.

Staff members in the Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Council Rock, Morrisville and Pennsbury school districts as well as at five local Catholic parish schools helped the Kiwanis club get the vouchers to families in need.

"We had two families who were victims of a fire. That's really tough circumstances," Berman said.

More: Giving Tuesday: Give A Christmas donations stay local, fill needs

A family will receive a $35 vouncher for each child. The vouchers can be used by the recipients at area stores where they area honored, including:

  • Acme Markets - New Falls Road, Levittown; Bristol Road, Bensalem; and Second Street Pike, Richboro. Account: 178891.

  • Redner's Market - Kinghts Road, Bensalem and 1361 E. Lincoln Highway, Langhorne.

  • All Fresh Supermarket, Pond Street, Bristol.

  • Burlington - 2375 E. Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, and 1563 Franklin Mills Circle, Philadelphia.

  • Barnes & Noble, 300 Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem.

Contributors can make their donations anonymously or have their names printed in the Bucks County Courier Times. Donations can also be made in recognition or in memory of loved ones.

The drive won't end on Christmas, but gifts made in time to help families get through the holiday crunch and help pay their holiday bills come January would be most appreciated.

The Kiwanis drive raised $113,372 last year and gave out 3,835 vouchers for 2,505 households.

The Give A Christmas drive has been a force for good in Lower Bucks since it began in 1958, raising over $5.3 million. It goes along with the Give A Christmas drive sponsored by The Intelligencer and the Bucks County Opportunity Council in Central and Upper Bucks, also to assist families and individuals with financial hardships.

Donation forms for the Kiwanis drive can be downloaded here, or found in the printed Bucks County Courier Times. Please send to Give A Christmas, P.O. Box 862, Levittown, PA 19058. Donate online here.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Want an easy way to feel good? Donate to Give A Christmas