Imagine being the mother and father of four children living at home, and one just starting on their own, and facing a shortage of money for the coming holidays.
Rachel is one of those people. Recently, the receptionist and her contractor husband, who suffers from an illness that keeps him from working full time, found themselves walking through their home in North Coventry, trying to decide what to do.
“It was very stressful,” she said recently. “We were looking to see if we could sell things to buy our kids Christmas presents. I have never been extremely into material things. But if I have something nice to give, a few things for the kids, it would be all right.”
Even though she works fulltime and her husband can work part-time, Rachel finds the household budget strained. She has taken to getting support from the North Coventry Food Bank, but more than that she drives to Lancaster County once a month to discount stores to find less expensive items.
The 42-year-old said that “everything seems like it has gone up in price. Oil, electricity, it’s very difficult to makes ends meet. We have given up on luxuries. We have what are the necessities, but you know, we haven’t been out to eat at a restaurant in a long time.
“The little things you used to do, you can’t do the extra stuff now,” she said. When one of her children asked to go on a school field trip, Rachel volunteered to act as an adult chaperone because that meant the child could go for free.
She said that like many families that are struggling at this time of year, her children seem to recognize that the tree won’t be laden with presents. “They don’t ask for things, especially the 13-year-old and the 10-year-old, they definitely know we are not doing as well as we were.”
But that is when Operation Holiday can help.
HISTORY
Operation Holiday was started in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown to help families going through tough times provide something for their children during the holidays. The mission of the program is to make sure there is food on the table and gifts under the tree when Christmas morning comes.
Now in its 34th year, the program has served thousands of families throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, expanding its reach in recent years to include communities served by Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
Nearly $90,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 419 children and 184 families, plus cash donations to food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 17 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 189 families with 366 children for gifts and food.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group newspapers who volunteer their time.
Gift cards to area grocery stores are provided to each family for food, so that they can purchase the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry. Weis Markets is a partner with Operation Holiday and has assisted with food purchases and gift cards.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies so that families can purchase gifts of their choice.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
HOW TO DONATE
Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ and click on the link for Operation Holiday.
Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 34 Susquehanna Ave., Ste. 100, Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.
The names of all contributors are published in the participating newspapers as donations are received. Please note whether a contribution should be designated as anonymous or given in tribute or in memory of someone.
Source: Berkshire mont