YMCA calls on community to spread holiday cheer to help 800 families

Despite being a county with tremendous wealth, nearly 73,914 residents are living at or near the poverty level, according to data from Chester County Planning Commission. During the holiday season and winter months, food and shelter insecurity hit hardest.

In response, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW), serving all of Chester County, is rallying the community to help neighbors in need as part of the organization’s Holiday Cheer initiative.

“We know that for our neighbors with limited resources, the holidays can be incredibly stressful,” says Bertram L. Lawson II, President and CEO. “We want to alleviate some of this pressure in hopes that all families can experience the peace and joy that the holiday season symbolizes.”

Families in need of support were invited to apply to YGBW’s Holiday Cheer program last month. The organization received a record number of applications and plans to support 800 households this year, an increase of 25% as compared to last year. YGBW is looking for donors to help fill the needs across the community.

Leading up to Thanksgiving, YGBW plans to distribute 800 Bags of Gratitude across the county to help families enjoy a fulfilling meal. Those who wish to donate are invited to visit one of eight YGBW locations to pick up a shopping list and reusable bag.

Donors will fill the bag with the non-perishable items on the shopping list – and a $25 grocery gift card – effectively creating a meal kit for a local family. Filled bags are due back to YGBWs branch by November 1.

Members and non-members alike are invited to participate. YGBW members who donate a Bag of Gratitude by November 1 will be entered to win one free month of membership.

To keep the Holiday Cheer going into December, YGBW plans to distribute holiday gifts to 1,800 children through their Gifts of Joy program. Starting November 1, members and non-members alike are invited to visit a YGBW branch to select a family to sponsor. The family shopping list includes three gift wish items for each child, with a budget of $25 per gift.

Donors will shop for items on the list and return unwrapped gifts to their YGBW branch by December 1.

“Gifts of Joy shopping lists will be organized by family this year – instead of by child,” explains Laura Mackiewicz, Director of Volunteer and Civic Engagement. “This is a change from prior years and will help to ensure that all members of the family receive relatively equal amounts of gifts for their household. This change also helps with our program capacity at the branches so the YMCA of Greater Brandywine to serve even more families this year.”

Adding to the effort to support program capacity and impact, all branches are also collecting Gift of Cheer Kits for families who have applied or inquired past the program application deadline. The Gift of Cheer Kit includes a $25 gift card to a large retail outlet, a new board game, a new craft, and a new blanket. YGBW encourages employers, churches, scout troops, schools and neighbors to organize a giving group to spread the cheer even further.

In addition to the Bags of Gratitude and Gifts of Joy donor drives run by YGBW, the organization will also distribute 3,500 winter coats to Chester County children. The new winter coats are provided by the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, which established the New Coat Program 16 years ago. YGBW is honored to participate annually.

“Our staff look forward to the New Coat Program each year,” says Mackeiwicz. “When the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation truck arrives, you can feel the excitement as our staff helps to unload the truck and sort the donations. Each coat is going to bring warmth, joy and gratitude to a child in our community. That’s an incredible feeling.”

Auto Dealers CARing for Kids New Coat Drive: https://www.morethanautodealers.com/what-we-do/new-coat-program/

YGBW Financial Assistance: https://ymcagbw.org/membership/financialassistance